Editor's note, March 2026: This article was originally published in December 2024 when the merger had just been approved. It has been updated to reflect the completed merger and what it has meant for customers in practice.
In December 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved the £16.5 billion merger between Vodafone and Three, creating what became the UK's largest mobile network by customer numbers. The combined entity, now operating as VodafoneThree, has around 27 million customers, overtaking EE and O2.
The merger formally completed in June 2025. Here is what has happened since, and what it means for customers on both networks and the MVNOs that run on them.
About the merger
Plans for the merger were first announced in June 2023. After an extended investigation, the CMA gave its approval in December 2024, subject to a set of conditions designed to protect consumers and maintain competition. Vodafone and Three were the two smallest of the UK's four major networks at the time, and the CMA concluded that a merged entity with the right conditions in place would not harm competition.
The merger completed in June 2025. Vodafone and Three now operate as a single combined network under the VodafoneThree name.
What conditions did the CMA set?
The CMA attached several conditions to its approval, which remain in force:
- A joint network investment plan requiring £11 billion to be spent improving the combined network, with a focus on 5G rollout and coverage.
- Tariff caps on selected data plans for three years, protecting customers from sharp price rises immediately after the merger.
- Pre-set pricing and contract terms for MVNOs using the network for three years, ensuring smaller virtual operators can continue to access the network at competitive rates.
Which networks run on VodafoneThree?
The following MVNOs now run on the VodafoneThree network:
What has the merger meant for customers?
The practical impact for customers has been gradual rather than immediate. The two networks are in the process of being integrated, and customers on both Vodafone and Three are not expected to notice significant changes to their day-to-day service in the short term.
On coverage, the merger has started to improve the combined network's footprint. The VodafoneThree network now benefits from the combined infrastructure of both former networks, which has narrowed the gap with EE on 4G reliability. Independent data from RootMetrics still places EE ahead overall, but the margin is smaller than it was before the merger completed.
On pricing, the CMA's tariff caps have provided some short-term protection. However, both Vodafone and Three are applying annual price rises to existing customers in April 2026, which sit within the permitted levels under the conditions set. For a full breakdown of current network price rises, see our guide to SIM-only mid-contract price rises.
For customers on MVNOs running on the VodafoneThree network, the three-year pricing protections mean wholesale rates remain stable for now. Networks such as Smarty and iD Mobile have continued to offer competitive plans since the merger completed.
Written by Phil Brown, founder of SIM Only Finder. Originally published December 2024, updated March 2026. About the author
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