Actual 4G service worse than 4G connection checker

Read the small print:

the information is only a guide and doesn't guarantee service availability in a particular location.

Hi ​@Paul Warren Lucas 

Sorry to hear this, have you tried manually preferring 4G in your device settings instead of 5G whilst in an area that has better 4G coverage?

As ​@WelshPaul mentioned, we unfortunately cannot guarantee a service everywhere, some areas will be weaker than others for 5G, 4G or even just generally.

Tom

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your reply.

I can’t find an option under mobile settings to prefer 4G over 5G? What I can say is that my previous mobile handset (iPhone SE2020) was not 5G compatible and I had exactly the same problems with 4G in that area.

What I really want to know is whether it was worth pursuing a request for an investigation into the poor quality 4G in that area or whether a 5G rollout was imminent in that area (given that it is already in place on the northern half of town) that may address the issue?

Many Thanks,

PWL

Hey there ​@Paul Warren Lucas, sorry to hear that. Just to make you aware, we're currently working on fixing an issue in this area at the moment. We're sorry for any disruption this may be causing.

We hope to have things fixed as soon as possible and will add any updates here.

https://www.three.co.uk/support/network-and-coverage/coverage?location=dh44ar&tab=2#tabs-c2d0d12ce8-item-2988999184-tab

Therefore, we’d expect weaker signal in this area until this is resolved, our sincere apologies for this.

How long have you had issues for, and is it only with data? Also, what phone do you have now?

Thanks,

Tyler

Hi Tyler,

Thank you for your reply and for drawing my attention to the link on Three’s website. I note that the “issue in this area” appears to extend throughout all Abingdon postcodes (even those areas where I have a functioning 4G data signal) and includes nearby areas such as Oxford, Didcot and Wantage. I have had similar 4G data issues in the centre of Oxford and Didcot, but I don’t go there as much.

I first noticed the data issue in the area around OX14 5DH in March 2024, but it could have been occurring before that as I didn’t really use much data before then. I haven’t noticed whether there is an issue with making calls in that area, as it is not something I would usually do.

I replaced my old iPhone SE2020 handset with an iPhone 12 Pro handset in March 2025 and it made negligible difference to the data issue in that area.

What I don’t know is how long that Three have been aware of the “issue in this area”, how long that message has been in place and how quickly they are likely to reach a resolution?

Many Thanks,

PWL