Three UK Sees Average Mobile Data Usage Per User Hit 25GB

Mobile operator Three UK has published their latest financial results, which reveals that over 4,250 sites (up from 2,200 last year) are now live with 5G – reflecting 60% UK outdoor population coverage. The average data (mobile broadband) usage per customer has also reached 25.1 GigaBytes per month (up from 19GB).

At present, the operator’s wider network now covers 99% of the UK outdoor population (3G and 4G) and carries 28% of the UK’s mobile data traffic, although they don’t provide any figures for geographic network coverage.

Three’s active customer base also grew by 6% or 614,000 year-on-year, which brings the total to over 10 million (up from 9.7m last year). You can see a full breakdown of the key annual changes below.

Highlights from Three’s Results

· Revenue up 3% to £2.52bn (2021: £2.44bn) driven by customer base growth

– Net Customer service revenue up 5% to £1.56bn (2021: £1.48bn)

– Other revenues, which include wholesale and accessories, increased 9% to £203m (2021: £187m)

· 6% margin growth to £1.53bn (2021: £1.45bn) due to strong growth coming through our core Contract voice business alongside B2B, SMARTY and Wholesale

· EBITDA of £612m (2021: £594m*) up 3%,margin increases partially offset by increased costs, due to investment programmes and inflationary factors – inflationary pressures specifically impacting H2 and will further impact 2023

· Active customer base up 6% or 614k y-o-y bringing the total to over 10m (2021: 9.7m)

– Contract customers up 5% y-o-y to 8.5m (2021: 8.1m)

– Prepaid customers up 13% y-o-y to 1.8m (2021: 1.6m)

· Retained number one position in sector for overall contract net adds across 2022 (Enders Analysis), with almost double the growth of our competitors combined

· Wholesale margin grew 21% y-o-y, with an 8% increase in customer numbers. Extended key partnership agreement with Currys for iD Mobile MVNO.

· B2B customer base doubled y-o-y, finishing on 385k customers

· 5G Home Base tripled yoy with customer data usage growing 5%

· SMARTY base grew by 33% y-o-y, finishing on 734K customers

· Reported Capex of £743m, down 5% y-o-y (2021: £784m reported) to maintain budgeted levels of cash outflow

Robert Finnegan, Chief Executive of Three UK, said: “We have successfully grown the business again in 2022, building on strong foundations. We have added to the customer base, delivered an increase in margin as well as year-on-year cashflow improvements. It has been particularly pleasing to see such strong performances from areas of the business such as SMARTY, Business and Wholesale, whilst building a credible 5G Home broadband business and alternative to fixed fibre broadband.“