Three UK is transforming its network and IT infrastructure to ensure better connectivity. This forms part of a £2bn+ investment to significantly transform Three’s network, increasing 4G speeds by up to 150% as well as delivering 5G.
Three’s network technology uses the UK’s 5G spectrum portfolio with 100MHz of contiguous 3.4-3.8GHz spectrum which is required to meet the ITU’s standard for 5G in combination with the world’s first fully virtualised cloud core network with Nokia.
Back in 2015, Three became the first network to launch VoLTE (Voice calls on our 4G network) and this month, it has extended the rollout across its entire 4G network.
The company now have over 11,000 sites enabling VoLTE on the 4G 1800/2100 MHz spectrum which will help improve customer experience. In the past, customers could find themselves dropping back to 3G, but with VoLTE now enabled, this will not happen.
Additionally VoLTE call speech quality is more reliable than 3G and it can be further enhanced with the use of Enhanced Voice Speech (EVS), which Three is planning to introduce later this year.
Last month, Three UK entered into a £100m infrastructure investment agreement with SSE Enterprise Telecoms to enhance connectivity and deliver the UK’s fastest 5G network across hundreds of towns and cities.
In addition, as part of the second phase of the network rollout, SSE Enterprise Telecoms will deliver over 450 unbundled BT Exchanges across the UK. The associated fibre connectivity will be linked into Three UK’s network, meaning a faster, more reliable experience for customers.
This will mean SSE Enterprise Telecoms’ fibre network, which currently stretches across 20,000 km, will reach over 30,000 km, providing a unique high capacity and resilient network for all of Three UK’s customers.
Earlier this month Three UK announced it has entered into an agreement with Colt Technology Services for it to become a preferred provider of fibre backhaul connectivity.
Colt’s technology will provide 20 times more backhaul capacity on the sites it is being deployed on giving customers a faster, better and more reliable experience.
Fibre backhaul is a vital part of delivering a great network experience and the technology will complement the recent upgrades to over 4000 sites with improved 4G, fully virtualized core network, 20 new data centres and 5G in over 100 locations.
