Customers of Vodafone have been flagging problems with the broadband service on Tuesday afternoon (9 July).

Many found themselves unable to access their internet connection when the service experienced an outage.

The disruptions began at approximately 3pm, with subscribers reporting they could not establish their internet connection.

Mobile data connections were also affected for some users.

Reports flooded the Downdetector platform from VodafoneThree subscribers throughout Britain, with incidents noted in London, Birmingham and Reading.

The vast majority of complaints, totalling 86%, concerned fixed-line broadband, while a further 7% involved mobile data connectivity. An additional 4% of reported issues related to mobile telephony services.

One individual posted on X that the Vodafone broadband was down again, expressing surprise at the occurrence. The post suggested the company should perhaps invest in infrastructure that could withstand warm conditions without service interruptions.

The telecommunications firm recently combined operations with rival mobile network Three, rebranding as VodafoneThree. Newsquest has approached VodafoneThree for a statement.

Downdetector is an online platform where users of popular services can submit reports when experiencing difficulties. The site only registers an incident when the volume of problem submissions substantially exceeds the normal level for that particular time.

On its website, Downdetector describes itself as the place people turn to when services fail to function.

The website monitors interruptions to numerous essential services, including internet connectivity, web hosting providers, financial institutions and social media platforms.

Further details about Downdetector’s methodology and how it gathers status information can be found on its website.

Essentially, users participate by submitting problem reports through the platform. The service also gathers problem indicators from social media channels and other online sources, according to Downdetector. These reports undergo validation and real-time analysis. An incident is identified when the number of reports significantly surpasses the typical average for that specific service. Users investigating an issue can view the most commonly reported problems and determine whether their location is among the areas experiencing outages.