Do they? I guess they use their own for video calls but what about voice do they use another networks transmitter's?
Do 3 Mobile Use Their Own Transmitter's For Voice Calls?
They use their own network where it's available for both voice and video, but in areas where they don't have their own transmitters they use O2's (for voice only, because O2 don't have a 3G network).
3 Mobile is run by Hutchison Telecom who own Orange. I'm not sure if this means they share with Orange's masts but I don't think this is always the case.
In my M5 Sights Book I got recently, there is a 3 Mobile mast... and next to it it says "Hutchison plan to build 3,500 base stations for 3G and are in talks with the Church of England about installing them in steeples".
In my M5 Sights Book I got recently, there is a 3 Mobile mast... and next to it it says "Hutchison plan to build 3,500 base stations for 3G and are in talks with the Church of England about installing them in steeples".
Originally Posted by skiddie2003:
“How come you cannot see 3 in the network scan?”
“How come you cannot see 3 in the network scan?”
Because your typical GSM900/1800 mobile cannot pick up the frequencies used by 3, would be my non-expert but reasonably well informed guess
Originally Posted by dodgygeeza:
“Because your typical GSM900/1800 mobile cannot pick up the frequencies used by 3, would be my non-expert but reasonably well informed guess”
“Because your typical GSM900/1800 mobile cannot pick up the frequencies used by 3, would be my non-expert but reasonably well informed guess
”
Yep, 3G works in the range 2110 - 2170MHz compared to the normal 900/1800MHz (Europe) and 1900MHz (USA) for GSM.
The interesting thing for the other networks is that for every customer they lose to 3, they gain the fact that there is another customer out there who will be making calls to their network and they will therefor recieve the termination charges.
vod's 3G network is about ready to go and they have full coverage, just about.
Look out for some much smaller and funkier 3G phone towards the end of this year when the new chipset comes on line.
vod's 3G network is about ready to go and they have full coverage, just about.
Look out for some much smaller and funkier 3G phone towards the end of this year when the new chipset comes on line.
Sadly 3 do indeed have their own network and it's had lots of problems with calls dropping etc since the launch last year. 
A report from industry analysts Mako was published that details the drawbacks and explains the issue in depth. Happy Reading!
Mako Analysis 3G Report
A report from industry analysts Mako was published that details the drawbacks and explains the issue in depth. Happy Reading!
Mako Analysis 3G Report
The good old days? You were about 10 years old when this thread was created - I'm not sure how much experience of Three 2G on o2 you could have had.
I realise you think I have no experience because I was 10, and of course back then I didn't know nearly as much as I do now but I was still interested, still had an NEC phone as soon as Three came out! I knew all about 3G licenses and that, and I knew they used O2 for 2G in the beginning.
Just because I am young or haven't been a member here long or whatever your reason is.. Don't judge me on my age and try to say I haven't had much experience because you don't know. I have grown up around technology my whole life, just don't judge people!
Thanks.
Just because I am young or haven't been a member here long or whatever your reason is.. Don't judge me on my age and try to say I haven't had much experience because you don't know. I have grown up around technology my whole life, just don't judge people!
Thanks.
My main point wasn't that you have no experience - in fact I have made no assumptions on how much experience you have or haven't had.
The reason for pointing out your age at the time this thread was created, was to emphasize how old the thread is, and to make the subtle suggestion that it should not have been bumped.
The reason for pointing out your age at the time this thread was created, was to emphasize how old the thread is, and to make the subtle suggestion that it should not have been bumped.
... "I'm not sure how much experience of Three 2G on o2 you could have had"...?
But ok.. No more posts in this thread then.
But ok.. No more posts in this thread then.
To end this old thread incase people get confused by old posts.
Three no longer have their own 3G Network as such. They use a network run by a company called MBNL which T-Mobile UK and Three set up so they could co-invest and speed up coverage improvements/tech upgrades. All T-Mobile & Three masts were taken into this company and are all shared between the two. There may be differences in live coverage or speeds due to the demands on the different networks or how they connect to the 'internet' etc i.e. Backhaul as this IS different between the two companies.
Three have some fall back on 2G using Oranges GSM network but this is being 'switched off' so to speak in areas of strong 3G coverage.
The combined forces that make up MBNL have the highest coverage by population in the UK.
Dead Thread.
Three no longer have their own 3G Network as such. They use a network run by a company called MBNL which T-Mobile UK and Three set up so they could co-invest and speed up coverage improvements/tech upgrades. All T-Mobile & Three masts were taken into this company and are all shared between the two. There may be differences in live coverage or speeds due to the demands on the different networks or how they connect to the 'internet' etc i.e. Backhaul as this IS different between the two companies.
Three have some fall back on 2G using Oranges GSM network but this is being 'switched off' so to speak in areas of strong 3G coverage.
The combined forces that make up MBNL have the highest coverage by population in the UK.
Dead Thread.
Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan:
“Three no longer have their own 3G Network as such. They use a network run by a company called MBNL which T-Mobile UK and Three set up so they could co-invest and speed up coverage improvements/tech upgrades. All T-Mobile & Three masts were taken into this company and are all shared between the two. There may be differences in live coverage or speeds due to the demands on the different networks or how they connect to the 'internet' etc i.e. Backhaul as this IS different between the two companies.”
“Three no longer have their own 3G Network as such. They use a network run by a company called MBNL which T-Mobile UK and Three set up so they could co-invest and speed up coverage improvements/tech upgrades. All T-Mobile & Three masts were taken into this company and are all shared between the two. There may be differences in live coverage or speeds due to the demands on the different networks or how they connect to the 'internet' etc i.e. Backhaul as this IS different between the two companies.”
...... and Orange is also now a member of MBNL after merging their UK operation with T-Mobile.
Definately dead now
I'd thought i'd keep Orange out of it for now seeing they are not sharing with Three as far as i know :P
Fat Lady has sung.
Fat Lady has sung.
Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan:
“I'd thought i'd keep Orange out of it for now seeing they are not sharing with Three as far as i know :P
Fat Lady has sung.”
“I'd thought i'd keep Orange out of it for now seeing they are not sharing with Three as far as i know :P
Fat Lady has sung.”
The Orange legacy network will be moved over to MBNL (3 & T-mobile's current shared company) bit by bit though I think. MBNL is the future transmission network for Orange and T-mobile, maybe Plymouth can confirm.
I think this means sites that all 3 networks can access / use under MBNL once Orange is moved over?
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“The Orange legacy network will be moved over to MBNL (3 & T-mobile's current shared company) bit by bit though I think. MBNL is the future transmission network for Orange and T-mobile, maybe Plymouth can confirm.
I think this means sites that all 3 networks can access / use under MBNL once Orange is moved over?”
“The Orange legacy network will be moved over to MBNL (3 & T-mobile's current shared company) bit by bit though I think. MBNL is the future transmission network for Orange and T-mobile, maybe Plymouth can confirm.
I think this means sites that all 3 networks can access / use under MBNL once Orange is moved over?”
It's already happening, basically.
