GIFFGAFF has finally launched its trial for a new speedy 500Mbps broadband service in the UK.
But in a rare turn of events, initial service speeds appear to be delivering better than the headline rate of 500Mbps, according to ISPreview.
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Using nexfibre and Virgin Media’s 10Gbps capable full fibre networks, GiffGaff is only the second provider after Virgin to harness nexfibre’s new wholesale network.
The network is currently available to over 2 million UK premises.
However, the trial, which was first confirmed back in mid-April 2025, is only opening up to 500 Brits to begin with.
Fortunately, that doesn’t include the small pool of trialists that tested the service before.
The trial will run for 12 months and offer triallists a heavily discounted broadband price of just £10 per month.
That’s not bad for 500Mbps – which is roughly eight times faster than the average UK broadband speed.
According to the first customers, the package gives households a proper IP address, delivers symmetric speeds and some of the exterior kit appears to retain Virgin Media’s branding.
But there is no IPv6 yet, which offers more built-in security features than the older IPv4 used by the majority of broadband providers, including Virgin Media.
There is no GiffGaff branded kit to accompany the service yet either.
Customers appear to be receiving an Arcadyan Technology-build Wi-Fi hubs, or Amazon’s Eero 6+ routers.
It is unclear whether GiffGaff will allow customers to use a third-party router.
According to ISPreview, it looks possible to use the hardware you have already installed, just with GiffGaff’s new trial service.
Faster packages and different pricing are expected to follow the trial.
Although we don’t yet know what those packages will look like, or when they will be available to customers.
