I thought The Reg was through with using "squared the circle" to mean achieving something difficult. For the umpteenth time, it is a construction that has been proved to be impossible in principle. If someone claims to have squared the circle, they are in the same category as someone who claims to have a perpetual motion machine - in short, certifiable. Not someone you would ever want to do business with.

When did 3 kick off - 2001? So they've managed to launch a next generation mobile network and push their way into a very well established market and turn a profit inside 10 years? I'd call that pretty good going, to be honest.

As you noted, the name of 3's chairman is 'Ka-shing'. How could you not do the honorable thing, and crack a joke - especially in a finacially-oriented story? Some people have no respect for humor.... :P

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(please post this possible non-sequitur)

dec

I tried Three years ago and their network was terrible. I recently got a Three PAYG USB modem and have been pretty impressed with their coverage and the speed I get on the network. Better still, in the very few places where there's no Three coverage it roams onto Orange's 3G network - all for a tenner a month.

Compared to my o2 iPhone that seems to not work in a surprising number of places where Three / Orange have coverage, I'd say that Three have quietly built out a stonking network - in fact I'm even thinking about taking a proper contract for their mobile data service.

Credit where credit's due - Three seem to have sorted out their network problems.