3 (company)

Hutchison 3G Enterprises S.A.R.L.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	3 March 2003 (2003-03-03)
Headquarters	Hong Kong , Hong Kong
Area served	Hong Kong, Macau, Austria, Denmark, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom
Products	Mobile and broadband networks (3G, 4G, 5G services)
Owner	CK Hutchison Holdings (majority controlling interests)

Hutchison 3G Enterprises S.A.R.L., widely recognized as Hutchison 3G (H3G) and operating under the brand name 3 (Three), represents a global telecommunications entity managing mobile and broadband networks across Hong Kong, Macau, Austria, Denmark, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Established on 3 March 2003 in Hong Kong, the Three brand catered to more than 110 million users worldwide by 2022.

Each of the 3-branded networks functions as a fully owned subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings (previously Hutchison Whampoa), although the ownership frameworks differ. CK Hutchison retains controlling interests in six networks through 3 Group Europe—namely Austria, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, and the UK. The Hong Kong and Macau operations are managed by Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings, whereas the Indonesian network is overseen by Hutchison Telecommunications International. All these networks provide 3G and 4G connectivity; several additionally support 2G and 5G technologies.

CK Hutchison has divested its 3G licenses in Israel (formerly Orange Israel) and Norway (previously under 3 Scandinavia).

Etymologies and logo

When launched in 2002 after Hutchison Whampoa divested its 2G assets to Orange, the brand name 3 (Three) symbolized the company's focus on emerging 3G services. By 2003, CK Hutchison Holdings explained that the name represented their triad of telecom offerings: 3G, GSM Dualband, and CDMA technologies.

The emblem depicts the numeral "3" and was initially designed as a three-dimensional orange graphic. It underwent transformations over time and was standardized into a flat black-and-white style in 2009. The company characterizes its logo concept as "cool on the outside and hot within."

Hong Kong

Operating under Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings—a CK Hutchison Holdings subsidiary—3 Hong Kong manages its mobile services.

In May 2004, its related 2G operator Orange transitioned to the brands 3 Dualband (GSM) and 3 CDMA (CDMA). On 29 May 2008, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings collaborated with Apple to introduce the iPhone to Hong Kong markets under the Three brand. A strategic alliance with Vodafone was formed in 2012 when 3 Hong Kong joined the Conexus Mobile Alliance.

Ownership breakdown:

• Hutchison Telecommunications International: 70.9%
• NTT DoCoMo: 24.1%
• NEC: 5%

Macau

Launched in 2000, 3 Macau initially provided GSM dual-band services before rolling out 3G in 2007. In 2008, it secured a deal with Apple to launch the iPhone locally. Presently, it offers comprehensive 4G coverage.

During both the 2G and 3G periods, it ranked as Macau’s second-largest mobile operator, capturing roughly a 31% market share in 2003, increasing to around 33% by late 2008. It remains unique in Macau for offering VoWiFi services.

Indonesia

Tri Indonesia was established in 2000, acquired a license for 3G services in 2003, and commenced operations in March 2007 starting from Jakarta. Within nine months of launch, it amassed approximately 2.2 million GSM subscribers while maintaining about a 90% brand recognition rate by April 2009.

By that time, Tri Indonesia served close to 4.5 million GSM users with both prepaid and postpaid plans; postpaid options were available in Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya. Its network coverage extended across Java, Sumatera, Bali, Lombok, Riau Islands, South Kalimantan, and South Sulawesi. UMTS/HSDPA services were primarily accessible in major urban centers.

In April 2009, Tri Indonesia introduced unlimited SMS and MMS plans integrated with Facebook and Yahoo! chat functionalities—marking firsts within Indonesia’s telecommunications market.

In a transaction during 2013, Charoen Pokphand divested its stake in Tri Indonesia to Garibaldi Thohir alongside private equity firm Northstar Group. Subsequently, in September 2021 Tri merged with Indosat, finalizing on January 4, 2022; Indosat remains as the continuing entity.

Indosat ownership structure:

• Ooredoo Hutchison Asia: 65.6% (a joint venture between Ooredoo and Hutchison Telecommunications International)
• The Government of Indonesia: 9.6%

Austria

Drei Austria commenced its services in May 2003 and had extended its 3G network coverage to 94% by 2008. Outside its UMTS/HSDPA/HSPA+ footprint, it utilizes national roaming agreements with T-Mobile Austria; prior to mid-2012, this arrangement was with A1's network. Drei Austria was a pioneer in the country by introducing "HD Mobile TV" powered by H.264 compression technology, which garnered industry accolades for its eBay (2006) and Nokia Xseries Gold (2007) campaigns. After obtaining a DVB-H license, the operator launched mobile TV offerings in June 2008, featuring three compatible devices and complimentary access. By September 2010, its subscriber base exceeded one million users.

In November 2011, Drei Austria rolled out HD voice capabilities alongside LTE services. The company revealed a national roaming pact with T-Mobile in January 2012, effective from July that year, enabling reciprocal network access where either party lacked coverage; meanwhile, the roaming agreement with A1 remained valid until the end of 2012.

On 3 February 2012, Hutchison Whampoa acquired Orange Austria for US$1.7 billion from France Télécom (holding 35%) and Mid Europa Partners (holding 65%). This consolidation resulted in a mobile provider serving 2.8 million customers and capturing over 20% market share within Austria. JPMorgan Chase provided advisory services to Hutchison, while Morgan Stanley advised France Télécom and Mid Europa Partners.

Denmark and Sweden

The networks of 3 Danmark and Tre Sverige are integrated to cover nearly all areas in both countries, permitting customers to utilize services seamlessly without incurring roaming charges between Denmark and Sweden. Although 3 Scandinavia had contemplated deploying a 3G network in Norway, this plan was discontinued in 2011. Both Danish and Swedish divisions reported positive EBITDA figures in 2008. In Sweden, parts of the UMTS2100 infrastructure are jointly operated with Telenor except within major urban centers where Three maintains independent control. Since 2011, Three has developed its own 3G network utilizing the UMTS 900 MHz band to increase coverage. The UMTS 900 and LTE 800 networks share base station infrastructure. As of June 2022, Three Sweden's population coverage stands at approximately 98.5%.

In May 2012, Three Sweden introduced LTE services across multiple bands including TDD2600, FDD2600, FDD2100, and FDD800. Initially collaborating with ZTE, it launched the world’s first combined LTE-FDD and LTE-TDD network. Subsequently, the network infrastructure transitioned to equipment supplied by Huawei and Ericsson. Following restrictions on Huawei's involvement in 5G deployments, Ericsson and Nokia Networks have taken over support for ongoing rollouts. By early 2022, Three Sweden was recognized as the fastest-growing mobile operator in the country. Additionally, it operates Hallon, a budget-friendly subsidiary brand established in 2013.

The "3 Like Home" feature allows subscribers to use their mobile services as if they were local in more than fifty countries including Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Singapore, Germany, among others.

Ownership structure:

• Hutchison Whampoa: 60%
• Investor: 40%

Ireland

Three Ireland launched on 26 July 2005 as Ireland’s fourth entrant into the mobile market following Vodafone, O2, and Meteor. Initially offering only post-paid plans, it expanded its portfolio with the introduction of the pre-paid "3Pay" service in May 2006.

Its network supports technologies from 2G up to 5G. Until 2015, Three Ireland maintained a roaming agreement with Vodafone to provide fallback 2G coverage where its own signal was unavailable.

In June 2013, CK Hutchison Holdings agreed to purchase Telefónica’s Irish operations (O2) for €780 million with plans to merge them into Three Ireland. The European Commission approved this acquisition in 2014; full integration of O2 was completed by March 2015.

Three launched its initial 4G network in January 2014 covering major cities such as Dublin and Cork, later expanding service to additional towns by March of that year. In 2016, it upgraded its offering with "4G+" technology capable of peak speeds up to 225 Mbit/s. By March 2020, its LTE coverage extended to approximately 97.3% of the population.

On 28 September 2020, Three activated its commercial 5G network providing initial availability to around 35% of the population across 121 sites with plans for further expansion underway.

Italy

3 Italy, originally known as Andala, was established in November 1999 under the ownership of Sardinian ISP Tiscali, Franco Bernabè, and Sanpaolo IMI. It became the pioneer Italian mobile operator to introduce 3G (UMTS) services in March 2003. By March 2010, the company had amassed 9 million subscribers and secured a roaming partnership with TIM, which ensured 2G network availability for approximately 99.8% of the Italian population. In February 2006, it rolled out HSDPA technology, referred to as "ADSM," followed by the launch of digital mobile television using DVB-H in May 2006. Between June 2008 and November 2011, 3 Italy provided complimentary access to major Italian TV channels via DVB-H.

In 2015, CK Hutchison Holdings and VimpelCom reached an agreement to merge their Italian telecom divisions—3 Italy and Wind Telecomunicazioni—a process that was completed in December 2016. This joint venture, equally shared by both companies, was rebranded as Wind Tre and had approximately 31 million mobile users by early 2017, making it the largest mobile operator in Italy. CK Hutchison acquired full control in 2018 by purchasing VEON’s share. The consolidated Wind Tre brand officially launched in March 2020, featuring an advanced network infrastructure designed to meet the demands of the emerging 5G market.

United Kingdom

Three UK debuted as the United Kingdom's first commercial video mobile network on 3 March 2003, coinciding with the nationwide introduction of 3G technology. By December 2004, Three had become the first operator to fulfill the regulatory mandate of covering at least 80% of the UK population.

The company provides services across 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies and holds a national roaming agreement with EE for 2G service in areas lacking 3G coverage (previously partnered with O2). As 3G networks became ubiquitous, reliance on 2G fallback diminished significantly.

In March 2015, Three announced its intention to acquire O2's UK operations from Telefónica for £10.25 billion; however, this acquisition was blocked by the EU Commission in May 2016.

Three’s retail footprint began with flagship stores on London’s Oxford Street and Kensington High Street as well as Birmingham’s Mailbox shopping center. The retail presence grew to include prominent shopping centers such as Bluewater and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway. In October 2006, Three expanded its physical outlets by acquiring 95 high street stores from O2 and The Link. The UK branch is fully owned by CK Hutchison Holdings.

In June 2023, plans were announced for a merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK—pending regulatory approval—to create the largest mobile network in Britain. Vodafone is set to hold a 51% stake while CK Hutchison Holdings will retain 49%. The merger received clearance from the UK Competition and Markets Authority in December 2024 and is anticipated to finalize in early 2025.

Australia

Hutchison launched its Three network in Australia in 2003, operating a 2,100 MHz band for its 3G service through a joint venture equally shared with Telstra. While radio access networks were shared between partners, core networks remained independent. This arrangement provided coverage to roughly 56% of Australia’s population, including key metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

On 9 February 2009, Three merged its Australian operations with Vodafone's local business to form a new joint venture named Vodafone Hutchison Australia, marketing all products under the Vodafone brand umbrella. Regulatory approval was granted on 29 May 2009, with Vodafone Hutchison Australia officially established in June of that year. Although networks stayed distinct until August 2009, the Three brand was gradually discontinued starting late that year. No new customers were accepted under Three Mobile after this point, and all existing accounts were terminated by 30 August 2013.

Previously, Hutchison operated an Australian CDMA network branded Orange One under the Orange name. This service allowed users to utilize their mobile phones as home telephones at competitive rates but had limited coverage supported through roaming agreements with Telstra. On 1 February 2006, Orange One was rebranded as "3 CDMA" before ceasing operations on 9 August that same year. Customers were encouraged to migrate either to the newer 3G network or alternative providers following its closure.

Internet Access

In most of its markets, including Ireland, the UK, and Australia, 3 provides a portal featuring free-to-browse content, while users pay fixed fees for downloading videos, texts, or applications. Initially, direct Internet access from mobile devices was restricted by 3 UK and 3 Ireland, whereas 3 Austria permitted it from the outset.

In 2004, 3 introduced the PC Card 3G Data Card, known as the "NetConnect Card," designed for Windows laptops to enable Internet connectivity via 3's network with a variety of data and business tariff options. Subsequently, the company expanded its offerings with additional cards and USB modems supporting HSDPA technology.

3 Skypephones and Skype on 3

In November 2007, a collaboration between 3, Chinese manufacturer Amoi, and Skype led to the launch of the Skypephone. This UMTS handset combined standard mobile features with complimentary Skype voice calls and instant messaging. These devices were exclusively available through 3 under contract or prepaid arrangements.

Additionally, 3 developed "Skype on 3," an application compatible with S60 and J2ME handsets (excluding iPhone and Android, although unofficial Android versions circulated). Unlike typical Skype mobile apps that utilize data connections for calls, "Skype on 3" routed calls via a dedicated phone number supplied by 3 at no cost. This service operated in Australia, Ireland, and the UK but was discontinued in Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, and Sweden.

The service's backend relied on iSkoot until its closure in January 2011, impacting J2ME clients and certain Skypephones; however, some S60 versions continued functioning. Despite earlier promotions advertising "free for life," Skype announced the termination of "Skype on 3" by September 2014. Following this, users were encouraged to switch to conventional clients that use standard data connections and may incur charges instead of benefiting from the dedicated free access number.

Roaming Packages

In February 2007, 3 introduced 3 Like Home, a service allowing subscribers to use any 3-branded network worldwide (excluding 3 Indonesia) without additional roaming fees. Customers were charged identical rates for voice calls, data usage, and messaging as they would on their home network. Inclusive bundles could also be utilized abroad; however, prepay customers experienced limited advantages.

This was made possible through roaming agreements that removed internal roaming fees within the group, effectively equating roaming expenses with those incurred domestically.

• By April 2009, '3 Like Home' was discontinued by 3 UK for its customers starting 30 June 2009; similarly, 3 Sweden ended the service on 23 May 2010.
• On 19 August 2013, following its acquisition of Orange Austria, 3 Austria stopped offering '3 Like Home' to new subscribers while maintaining existing plans.
• On 30 August 2013, 3 UK launched "Feel at Home," enabling customers traveling to Australia, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Hong Kong, and Ireland to pay standard UK rates for calls, texts, and data usage. The list of supported countries expanded as follows:
  • 4 December 2013 – Indonesia, Macau, Sri Lanka, USA
  • 1 July 2014 – France, Finland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland
  • 1 April 2015 – New Zealand, Spain
  • 8 September 2016 – an additional set of 24 European nations including Germany, Portugal, Greece
  • 15 June 2017 – Brazil and Singapore
• In September 2014, "Roam Like Home" was enhanced by 3 Denmark to include France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.
  • May 2015 – Portugal, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Spain
  • November 2015 – USA and Singapore
• On 1 April 2017, '3 Like Home' was replaced by "Roam Like Home" for Pay As You Go customers at 3 Ireland. This allowed use of flexi units and data across the thirty EEA countries plus Andorra, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, San Marino and the UK. Bill Pay Plans further extended coverage to encompass the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and Vatican City alongside these territories. This update aligned with EU Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 which abolished roaming charges within the European Union.

External links

• [Corporate website]