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Looking to switch to a new broadband provider? Mobile network Giffgaff recently started connecting new customers to its broadband trial.
Giffgaff is initially trialling a 500Mbps broadband package, but early testers say internet speeds are even faster than the advertised rate. This means you'll likely experience enhanced streaming for HD and 4K content, improved online gaming experience, and more efficient remote work.
Even faster package rates may become available further down the line.
If you want to test Giffgaff's broadband service yourself, the company is offering to pay £100 to anyone who signs-up. Since Giffgaff is using the nexfibre network, you'll need to live in one of the 2 million UK homes connected to its speedy full-fibre cables.
Get £100 to test full-fibre broadband from Giffgaff
If you're interested in taking part in the trial and live in an area with access to the nexfibre network, Giffgaff is still actively recruiting 500 new participants to trial the service price at a discounted price of £10 per month for a speed of 500Mbps for 12 months. At the end of the trial period, Giffgaff will request feedback. If you take part, you'll be paid £100
According to feedback from the initial trial of some 500 people across the UK, customers have received a Wi-Fi router with Giffgaff branding, but it's unclear if this will be the final kit used when Giffgaff's broadband goes live for everyone.
Whenever Giffgaff decides to launch its broadband, it could have a major impact on the industry. More providers offering high-speed nationwide could lead to better services and lower prices as household names like BT, Sky, and Virgin Media are forced to stay competitive against newer upstarts.
Giffgaff has a reputation for offering affordable monthly data plans with its SIM-only packages, so we'd expect the same from its home broadband plans.
Giffgaff will be leveraging nexfibre’s national network, with plans to expand to Virgin Media O2’s full-fibre infrastructure in the near future. Both brands offer an alternative to BT-owned Openreach network, which is used by BT, Sky, EE, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and several other popular providers.
Openreach, which is connected to 99% of all homes and business in the UK, is in the process of upgrading its network to full-fibre. It plans to connect gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband to 25 million premises by 2026, before expanding to 30 million by the end of the decade.
VIRGIN MEDIA O2 PRESS OFFICE | Virgin Media O2 owns its own full-fibre broadband network, which is separate from BT-owned Openreach — the nationwide network of cables that powers Sky, BT, EE, Plusnet and TalkTalk broadband In contrast, nexfibre is planning to roll-out full-fibre to more than 5 million premises across the UK by the end of 2026. Virgin Media O2 already owns and operates its own full-fibre network, which is connected to over 16 million homes and business nationwide. The company announced plans to allow other companies — like Sky — to use its cables to compete with Openreach last year.
Giffgaff is the first new brand to choose Virgin Media O2 and other partners over Openreach since the announcement.
“The roll out of Giffgaff broadband will add to the ambition of Nexfibre and Virgin Media O2’s combined national scale offering; being part of the biggest full fibre challenger to BT,” Giffgaff revealed in a statement. “Much like the approach with its mobile offering, launching Giffgaff broadband will introduce more choice to more people in the market through the Virgin Media O2 portfolio."
How will it work?
If you're chosen to be part of the trial, Giffgaff will offer you 12 months of its new 500Mbps full-fibre broadband service for £10 per month.
For comparison, BT charges £34.99 a month for the same speeds.
At the end of the year-long trial, you'll be asked to provide feedback on the broadband. If you answer questions on the service for Giffgaff, you’ll receive £100 cashback, meaning you've bagged yourself 12-month fast full-fibre broadband for a meagre £20. That equates to £1.60 a month.
A small group of UK residents are already involved in a trial, Giffgaff has confirmed, but the latest announcement signals the beginning of a broader roll-out ...and could hint that a full-scale launch isn't far off.
Speaking about the plan to expand its broadband to 500 people, Giffgaff CEO Ash Schofield said: "Broadband is a natural evolution for us as a connectivity brand. We know people are frustrated with their current broadband offering so we’re committed to bringing together the best tech, with the experience of the people that matter most – our customers – to build better broadband."
Research condudcted by Giffgaff found one in six people believe broadband is more important than a holiday, while 38% were frustrated by slow broadband speeds.
A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson added: “The planned launch of a Giffgaff broadband service mirrors the successful approach we’ve taken with the brand on the mobile side. It allows us to offer a complete range of broadband and mobile services to a wider mix of different customers and aligns with our broader commercial strategy.”
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Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, commented on the announcement: “Giffgaff's entry into the broadband market could be exciting news for consumers looking for an alternative to the bigger players. The real test will be what kind of pricing that Giffgaff – long known as a value player – will be offering to consumers as this product becomes more widely available."
The final monthly price and release date for Giffgaff broadband remains unconfirmed.