3 (company)

Hutchison 3G Enterprises S.A.R.L., commonly known as Hutchison 3G (acronym H3G) and trading as 3 (Three), is the owner of a brand name that operates several mobile phone networks and broadband Internet providers in Hong Kong, Austria, Denmark, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The brand was officially founded on 3 March 2003 in Hong Kong. As of 2022, registered Three customers worldwide numbered over 110 million. Most 3-branded network companies (except the United Kingdom, which its owned by Vodafone) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of CK Hutchison Holdings (formerly Hutchison Whampoa) but the ownership structure varies. CK Hutchison Holdings owns direct majority interests of six networks through 3 Group Europe, including Austria, Denmark, Italy, Ireland and Sweden. Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings operates the networks in Hong Kong, while Hutchison Telecommunications International operates the network in Indonesia. All 3-branded networks provide 4G and 3G services; some also run 2G networks and 5G services. CK Hutchison Holdings no longer holds a 3G licence in Israel, which was formerly operated under the brand Orange, or in Norway, where an unused licence was previously held by 3 Scandinavia.