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News release

3 wins "Network of the Year"
3 "champions the consumer cause" - "What Cellphone"

24th January 2005

London - 3, the UK's first video mobile network, has been voted "Network of the Year" by "What Cellphone", beating the old networks into second place.

"What Cellphone's" test team gave its verdict on the best hardware, services and software from the last twelve months in its awards for 2005. 3 beat competition from 02, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile to win "Network of the Year."

Bob Fuller, Chief Executive said: "3 is the UK's fastest growing network and continues to set the agenda for 3G with great value price plans and exciting products and services. This award comes at the end of a good year for 3, which saw over 2.5 million customers on the 3 network. We're now looking forward to an even more challenging 2005."

On 3's great value

"What Cellphone" recognised 3's great value to consumers noting that "3's monthly plans made many non-3G alternatives seem exorbitant". Equally 3's pre-pay offer was heralded as great value and the size and specification of handsets made the competition look "under-specified and overpriced".

On 3's innovative services

3's services also improved with streaming capability and innovative offerings such as "Football at 5.15" and content bundles that were great value.

On 3's network coverage

By the end of 2004 and three years ahead of schedule, over 80% of the UK's population could access 3's video services in addition to 99% population coverage for voice and text.

A serious contender

"What Cellphone" recognised that in a short period of time, 3 has established the infrastructure, services and customer base to ensure "it will be a serious long-term threat to the better-known networks."

3's "Network of the Year" award follows several other accolades in 2004 including industry's "best pre-pay package" (Mobile Choice), best "consumer post-pay tariff" (Mobile Retailer) and "best mobile service" (What Mobile). The Link, the UK's leading specialist mobile phone retailer, announced that 3 had both the industry's top-selling contract and pay-as-you-go handsets over the Christmas period, making 3's great value, innovative services and leading handset range a winning combination.

For more information about 3's products and services, visit www.three.co.uk.


-Ends -


Notes to editors

About 3

Hutchison 3G UK Limited deliver third-generation mobile multimedia and communications services under the 3 brand in the UK, offering a convergence of media, information and telephony to enable live video calls, multimedia content and entertainment while on the move.

3 services are available from sister companies in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy and Sweden. 3 also holds UMTS licences in Ireland, Israel and Norway.

For further information, please visit: www.three.co.uk or call the 3 Media Office on 0207 350 5696.

Three facts about 3:

*3 is the UK's first video mobile network.
*3 is the UK's fastest growing mobile network. Over 2.5 million customers in the UK now have access to 3's range of 3G services, from video messaging and video calling to watching full-length music videos and goals from Barclays Premiership football.
*3's network offers national coverage for calls and texts, and over 80% coverage for video services.