3 reaches 70% mobile video coverage

The company, which started rolling the UK's first 3G network just over two years ago, claims that it has undertaken one of the fastest network rollouts in European telecoms history.

"I am delighted to announce that we've integrated the 5,000th radio site into 3's network," said David Cooper, CTO at 3 UK. "This coverage means that we have the capacity and the network to offer customers an unrivalled package of voice, data and video services."

However, while the company may be the first to roll out 3G, and even the fastest, it has struggled to attract subscribers, despite offering low cost voice packages aimed at undercutting its rivals and undertaking a massive advertising campaign.

When the service launched in a flurry of marketing activity in March, 3 UK said that it aimed to have 1m subscribers by the end of this year.

However, it has been plagued by problems with availability of its colour-screen handsets, and also "hundreds" of complaints from consumers over the quality of the video mobile service, according to BBC's watchdog.

By August, the company had only signed up 155,000 subscribers, meaning that its target of 1m by end-of-year looks increasingly unlikely. It has not revealed the current number of subscribers so it is difficult to see how off-target the company is.

However, time is running out for 3 to make its mark, with rival UK operators expected to launch 3G networks in the second half of next year.



2 October 2003:

21 August 2003:



8 August 2003:

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