What Vodafone is

Vodafone is the UK's founding mobile network operator and retail brand, selling SIM-only, pay-monthly and PAYG mobile plans, device upgrades and broadband. It competes on network scale and converged mobile and broadband connectivity at the premium end of the market, and since its merger with Three is part of VodafoneThree, the UK's largest mobile network by combined customer base.

Price tier: Premium

Ownership: Trades as Vodafone Limited inside VodafoneThree, formed by merging Vodafone UK and Three UK and wholly owned by Vodafone Group plc after its buyout of CK Hutchison's 49% stake. Stores are operated directly by the group, with no franchise model; Three remains a separately branded sister fascia.

Formats: Single-brand Vodafone stores on high streets and in shopping centres, a growing number of Multi-brand stores carrying Vodafone and Three under one roof, and planned flagship stores in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Cardiff. Stores also offer Fix & Go by Vodafone in-store technical support and repair, alongside online direct sales and a dedicated Vodafone Business channel.

Growth: VodafoneThree is converting stores to shared Multi-brand units, extending the Three brand into more than 130 Vodafone towns while closing duplicate stores, with a commitment to stay present in every town either brand already serves. It has committed tens of millions of pounds of retail-estate investment and has not published a numeric store-count target.