Dongles draw new customers for 3

3 UK emerged from the difficult first half of the year with a net addition of 390,000 customers, according to the financial results of its parent company, Hutchison Whampoa.

The operator’s total customer base grew by 10% in the first six months of the year, reaching 4.8 million. The majority of 3’s 3.2 million customers are on contract, as were most new subscribers added during the first two quarters of this year – fuelled largely by mobile broadband.

However, average customer spending fell during the first half of the year and ARPU for 3 customers dropped by 5% to £37.