A £12.7 million network improvement project has seen Three’s mobile coverage in Northern Ireland grow from around 75% of the population to 95% in three years.
To achieve this Three has more than doubled the number of sites in its network in Northern Ireland from 189 at the end of 2012 to 425, with new areas now covered.
Since the project began, Three has seen a six-fold increase in data usage and call minutes have tripled on its Northern Irish network.
Three has also introduced advanced 3G technology across the network so customers will be able to enjoy a better experience using services like music, video streaming and web browsing.
The network investment continues with Three introducing 4G to its network in Northern Ireland in November, with the initial rollout focussed on Belfast. 4G will be added to other parts of the country in 2015, including Londonderry. 4G is available at no extra cost to Three customers and there is no need to swap SIM or change tariff.
Bryn Jones, Three’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “We have invested heavily in our network to provide exceptional coverage and a quality experience in Northern Ireland. Our customers will be able to enjoy better and faster mobile internet with the addition of new sites and the latest 3G technology. We will continue to invest in and improve the network to make sure customers get the best experience.”
Chris Lloyd, Three’s Area Manager for Northern Ireland, said: “With the massive expansion of network coverage we’ve seen sales rise by 28%, and 84% of our customers in 2014 have said they are likely to recommend us to friends and family. With our Feel at Home offer addressing the problems of inadvertent border roaming our Northern Ireland customers have made us the top performing region of the UK for growth.”
Last year Three addressed roaming costs by allowing customers to use the internet and call and text Northern Irish numbers over Irish networks at no extra cost, under its Feel At Home offer, addressing both accidental and intentional roaming.