MILLIONS of Vodafone and Three customers are set for a huge boost to their mobile signal as the newly-merged mega network reveals its £11billion grand plans.
A major improvement to services will start for more than seven million users of Three and its budget sub-brand SMARTY in just two weeks time.
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The £16.5billion tie-up makes VodafoneThree the UK’s biggest mobile networkCredit: Alamy
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Both brands will continue to co-exist – but there are some changes comingCredit: PA
Customers will receive a 20 per cent average speed uplift on 4G.
And within a few months, 27million mobile subscribers across both Vodafone and Three will benefit from better signal with shared access across both networks at no extra cost, the new joint VodafoneThree firm claims.
This will eradicate dreaded “not spots” from 16,500 sq/km of the country – the equivalent to 10x the size of London.
VodafoneThree has confirmed that its various brands will remain separate.
This not only includes Vodafone and Three, but also VOXI, SMARTY and Talkmobile which piggyback on their network kit.
However, Vodafone will be the only brand for business customers.
“A new era of connectivity has begun,” said Max Taylor, CEO of VodafoneThree.
“We will connect every nation, every community, in every corner of the UK.
“We will build the UK’s best 5G network with an unprecedented £11bn privately funded infrastructure project, laying the digital foundation for our country’s growth ambitions.”
The network is pledging to bring 99.95 per cent of the population 5G Standalone – the fastest version of 5G speed around – by 2034.
Brits will always have mobile phone & internet signal at home after tech breakthrough that beats Elon Musk’s Starlink
And by this time next year, bosses are planning to launch trials of space-based satellite mobile network coverage too to eliminate even more “not spots”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “I’m delighted that this huge investment is being made in mobile phone network infrastructure, better connecting people with families, loved ones and work by providing stronger, more widespread 5G coverage.”
Three’s brand will disappear from its mobile broadband over the next 12 months and brought together with Vodafone’s Full Fibre, all under the Vodafone name.
The firm has announced a new partnership with Community Fibre on top of existing deals with CityFibre and Openreach.
Two extra customer care centres are opening in Belfast and Sheffield as well, bringing 400 jobs back to the UK.
Vodafone and Three both operate their own stores across the country but the company says it has “no planned retail redundancies”.
The £16.5billion tie-up makes VodafoneThree the UK’s biggest mobile network.
WILL PRICES RISE?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
All these changes sound pretty exciting – but most customers will be wondering if it will cost them more.
VodafoneThree says its mobile network boost comes at “no extra cost”.
And bosses have insisted as much to get the deal over the line for months.
Vodafone’s CEO Margherita Della Valle told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in December that the merger would cause “no extra costs from public funding and no extra cost for our customers”.
The company has had to agree to a number of legally binding commitments to win the approval of the competition regulator CMA.
One of those was a cap on “selected mobile tariffs and data plans” for three years.
As things stand Vodafone, Three and sub-brands VOXI, SMARTY and Talkmobile, will continue to sell their own mobile products, so it shouldn’t result in less choice or competition.
SIR Keir Starmer yesterday told Labour rebels to fall into line over welfare cuts – as more than 100 of his own MPs are demanding a U-turn.
The PM insisted the system is “not working for anybody” and vowed to press ahead with slashing the health element of Universal Credit and tightening disability benefit rules.
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Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion of more than 100 Labour MPsCredit: Getty
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Furious MPs are urging the PM to delay disability benefits cutsCredit: Unpixs
Asked if he would soften the package, he said: “The argument for reform is overwhelming and that’s why we will get on and we will reform.”
It comes as furious MPs are urging him to delay the cuts and have slammed the lack of proper impact checks.
In a blistering letter to the Chief Whip, they said: “We regret we are unable to support a Bill before this has taken place.”
If all the MPs who have signed the letter follow through and vote against the plans, it could wipe out Sir Keir’s majority and trigger the biggest rebellion of his leadership.
Such is the worry inside Labour, that a party source warned dissenting MPs they could be punished at the ballot box.
The source said: “There is only going to be so much money, time and resources at the next election.
“How people behave now will make a difference to how those resources are allocated.”
It comes as some furious MPs are poised to rebel against Sir Keir because they think they’re toast at the next election.
Moderate backbenchers who have so far towed the party line are mulling taking a public stand on issues including disability benefit cuts, immigration and winter fuel payments – even if it means losing the whip.
There is also growing anger around the two-child benefit cap still being in place.
Key measures are reforms to PIP and Universal Credit
Merging jobseekers’ allowance and employment support allowance, where people who have worked get more than those who have not
Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment by 2028, with all health payments made via PIP in the future
Under-22s to be banned entirely from claiming Universal Credit incapacity benefits
An above-inflation rise to the standard allowance of Universal Credit, but the highest incapacity payment cut
A much higher bar for people to claim Personal Independence Payments to save £5billion a year
A “right to try” scheme that allows jobless Brits to have a go at working without losing their benefits if they cannot manage
The Sun understands some MPs want to work “with a clear conscience” until the end of this parliament – knowing that they are unlikely to return because of the threat of Reform.
A Red Wall Labour MP said: “Multiple colleagues with slim majorities think they have no chance of winning their seat.
“They want to hold the PM to account on issues causing an uproar locally, including PIP payments, and think they have nothing to lose if they defy party whips going forward.”
Another Labour MP told The Sun: “The numbers willing to rebel are much higher than expected.
“I think people shouldn’t underestimate just how much welfare is a driver of why a lot of Labour MPs, particularly moderates, are in the Labour party in the first place.
“A lot of our politics was defined by the performative cruelty of the Osborne era, and that casts a long shadow.”
What are Work Capability Assessments?
The DWP uses the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to evaluate a claimant’s ability to work when applying for Universal Credit due to a health condition or disability.
The WCA focuses on assessing functional limitations rather than specific medical diagnoses.
It considers both physical and mental health, awarding points based on how an individual’s condition impacts their ability to carry out daily activities.
After the assessment, claimants may be placed into one of two groups – Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).
Claimants assigned to the LCW group are recognised as currently unfit for work but may be capable of returning to employment in the future with the right support and assistance.
Those in this group are required to engage in work-related activities, such as attending Jobcentre appointments or training courses.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in sanctions, including a reduction or suspension of benefits.
Claimants are placed in the LCWRA group if their health condition or disability is considered so severe that they are not expected to be able to work or participate in any work-related activities in the foreseeable future.
Those in the LCWRA group receive an additional amount on top of their standard Universal Credit allowance currently worth £416.19 a month.
Over 150,000 on benefits will see their payments cut under Personal Independence Payments (PIP) changes, the DWP has confirmed.
From late next year, new and existing PIP claimants being reassessed will have to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to receive the Daily Living Component.
It will see those unable to cook qualify, but not those who can use a microwave.
Likewise, assistance required to wash your lower body would not deem you eligible but your upper body would.
And, while requiring help to use the toilet meets the threshold, needing reminded to go would fall below it.
The higher rate of the Daily Living Component is currently worth £110.40 a week.
Claimants will also have to score at least eight points when being assessed.
The Government estimates this means by 2029/30 around 800,000 won’t receive the Daily Living Component of PIP.
But it has also confirmed 150,000 will be missing out on Carer’s Allowance or the Universal Credit Carer’s Element by 2029/30 too.
This is because to receive either of these carer’s benefits you have to be caring for someone who receives the Daily Living part of PIP.
It means new and existing PIP claimants finding they are no longer eligible will disqualify their carer’s from next November when the changes kick in.
What is PIP and who is eligible?
HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP).
The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £184.30 a week.
PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66.
Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around – or both – for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 12 months to live).
