We regularise the 3d lambda phi^4 model by discretising the Euclidean time and representing the spatial part on a fuzzy sphere. The latter involves a truncated expansion of the field in spherical harmonics. This yields a numerically tractable formula
tion, which constitutes an unconventional alternative to the lattice. In contrast to the 2d version, the radius R plays an independent r^{o}le. We explore the phase diagram in terms of R and the cutoff, as well as the parameters m^2 and lambda. Thus we identify the phases of disorder, uniform order and non-uniform order. We compare the result to the phase diagrams of the 3d model on a non-commutative torus, and of the 2d model on a fuzzy sphere. Our data at strong coupling reproduce accurately the behaviour of a matrix chain, which corresponds to the c=1-model in string theory. This observation enables a conjecture about the thermodynamic limit.
