VodafoneThree, the newly merged telecoms giant formed from Vodafone UK and Three, has unveiled plans to invest £11 billion in a nationwide rollout of standalone 5G and ultra-fast broadband, with the aim of reaching 99.95% of the UK population by 2034.
The company, now the largest mobile operator in Britain, said the investment will provide a “massive upgrade for the country” and eliminate 16,500 square kilometres of mobile “not spots” — areas currently without reliable signal — by the end of this year.
CEO Max Taylor said the rollout would dramatically improve coverage, performance and speed, allowing VodafoneThree to compete more effectively in both the consumer and business broadband markets, while enabling new services that demand low latency and high capacity, such as IoT, augmented reality, and autonomous vehicles.
The UK has lagged behind G7 nations in 5G performance, with the slowest average 5G download speeds, according to 2023 data from Open Signal. Taylor acknowledged the shortfall, calling the £11bn investment “long overdue” and essential to unlock the full economic potential of next-gen connectivity.
The merged entity plans to bring “fibre or fibre-like” broadband speeds to all UK homes, leveraging its own mobile and fibre networks, as well as partnerships with Openreach, CityFibre, and now Community Fibre in London.
Taylor noted the business would target “full national coverage”, using fixed wireless access in harder-to-reach areas where full fibre is not yet available.
The move follows the completion of Vodafone’s £16.5 billion merger with CK Hutchison’s Three at the end of June — a deal seen as a litmus test for further telecoms consolidation in Europe. Network operators have long argued that fewer players would allow more sustainable investment and faster rollout of infrastructure.
Taylor said the integration would support cross-selling of mobile and broadband services across its base of 27 million mobile customers, increasing revenue opportunities through bundled offers and upgrades to faster services.
While he said the focus was on organic growth, Taylor did not rule out additional deals with wholesale or alternative network providers, though ruled out any current interest in acquiring TalkTalk, the struggling broadband operator.
VodafoneThree said its expansion will generate an average of 9,000 jobs annually across the UK over the next eight years. A further 400 roles will be created at new customer service hubs in Belfast and Sheffield. Some job duplication will occur, especially across headquarters, as the merger is integrated.
The broader economic impact is expected to be significant, with improved digital infrastructure boosting productivity, supporting remote work, and enabling smart city technologies.
Despite being central to the digital economy, the UK telecoms sector has struggled with stagnant growth, intense price competition, and rising infrastructure costs. Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle has responded with a sweeping restructure of the group, including the sale of Vodafone’s operations in Spain and Italy, raising €12 billion in the process.
Taylor said that 5G can finally offer telecoms providers a sustainable path to growth, but only if customers can see the value: “The challenge is to demonstrate that these propositions are worth paying a sustainable premium for.”
