VodafoneThree has completed what it says is a world-first network upgrade, successfully unifying core-level sharing through ‘Multi-Operator Core Network’ (MOCN) technology with its existing ‘Multi-Operator Radio Access Network’ (MORAN) infrastructure over a multi-vendor 4G and 5G network.
By integrating these technologies on more than 10,000 sites across the UK, up to 28.6 million Vodafone and Three customers are automatically connecting to the best available coverage, at no extra cost – whether that’s on the Vodafone or Three network. In one of the first major mobile benefits of the Vodafone and Three merger, millions of customers are now experiencing higher speeds for everyday browsing and streaming, as well as improved coverage and reliability when using 4G and 5G.
As outlined in a recent whitepaper “Ericsson | VodafoneThree MOCN Case Study” published by Ericsson, this milestone marks the first time any operator has integrated core and radio sharing at a national scale over a multi-vendor environment. The result is a single, intelligently orchestrated platform that delivers measurable improvements in performance, reliability and efficiency – setting a new industry benchmark that operators and partners in other markets are already looking to model for future large-scale network integration.
As part of this milestone, VodafoneThree has also unlocked the benefits of shared C-band spectrum across sites nationwide with up to 50 million people – around 71% of the UK population – now able to access the VodafoneThree network’s fastest 5G speeds. With more C‑band spectrum than any other mobile network operator, VodafoneThree can deploy it at scale*, ensuring more people in more places experience the full benefits of its fastest 5G. By combining spectrum assets at scale, the VodafoneThree network delivers what matters most to customers – increased capacity with faster speeds, over a wider area.
C-band spectrum refers to mid‑band spectrum around 3.4-3.8 GHz, providing a strong balance between coverage and capacity, helping to bring a high‑performance 5G experience to more people in towns, cities, and business environments. For individuals, this part of the network is powerful enough to support things like high-definition streaming, video calls and gaming. For businesses, it is ideal for applications that need high throughput and low latency, such as IoT, real-time monitoring, smart devices and connected technologies.
In these areas, customer benefits include:
- Dynamic access to the best coverage – Vodafone and Three customers are automatically using each other’s network, getting the best available coverage, at no extra cost. This seamless transition improves speeds, enhances reliability and crucially, requires no action from the user.
- Eliminating 4G not spots – By providing 4G coverage to areas of the UK where it wasn’t previously available to either brand’s customers, VodafoneThree has removed 16,500km² of not spots, an area ten times the size of London.
- Enhanced 5G coverage – Up to 50 million people, around 71% of the UK population, now have access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds, thanks to bringing the networks together and an accelerated 5G roll out plan.
- Reliability and resilience – Busy times, such as rush hour, put a strain on the network, as sites can be flooded with more customers than they can provide a good quality service to. Thanks to this technology, customers will be moved from a busy site to one that is able to provide the required level of performance. This reduces congestion, improving performance for affected users and providing a better experience for all customers.
- Improved coverage for high-footfall venues – Strategic coverage, including tactical deployment on temporary sites, indoor solutions and upgrades at high-footfall venues such as stadiums, airports and event spaces, ensure service levels remain strong during spikes in demand.
The latest improvements form part of VodafoneThree’s first phase of network integration, laying the foundations for a more robust, efficient and higher-performing network for millions of customers. The combination of successfully unifying core and radio network sharing over a multi-vendor 4G and 5G network along with the integration of C-band spectrum across the UK ensures that VodafoneThree is delivering the best quality coverage, with faster speeds, greater capacity and a more reliable customer experience in more places.
Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, says: “This world-first network upgrade shows how VodafoneThree is using cutting-edge technology to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure. By unifying core and radio sharing at a national level, while also introducing intelligent orchestration and dynamic capacity management, we’re setting a new benchmark for network performance.
“This upgrade means customers are already experiencing improved reliability and coverage and as well as access to our fastest 5G speeds today, but this is just the beginning. As we continue rolling out upgrades through our £11 billion investment, customers can expect even better performance, with even faster speeds.”
In September 2025, VodafoneThree announced Ericsson as a key strategic build partner in the delivery of its network investment. Through this partnership, VodafoneThree is deploying Ericsson’s next-generation, high-performing Radio Access Network (RAN) and core network solutions across the UK, as well as modernising existing 4G and 5G infrastructure.
This milestone forms part of VodafoneThree’s £11 billion investment programme to build the UK’s best network, connecting every community across all four nations. Through this long‑term investment, VodafoneThree will bring 5G Standalone coverage to 99% of the population by 2030, and 99.96% by 2034 – delivering resilient, high‑quality digital infrastructure needed to support businesses, boost local economies, and power the country’s future growth.
