Financial Times — Telecoms

Biggest UK Mobile Groups Suffer Worst Year of Customer Losses

The UK’s four largest mobile operators—EE (BT), Vodafone, Three and O2—recorded their steepest subscriber decline in a single year, shedding roughly 2 million customers combined in 2023. The churn rate hit 5.5%, the highest since 2015, driven by aggressive price competition, lingering network outages, and a slowdown in consumer spending. O2 posted the biggest loss, dropping 800,000 lines, while EE and Vodafone each lost around 600,000, and Three shed 200,000. Analysts warn the trend could pressure margins and delay 5G investment plans.