Chester gets connected: Five helps giffgaff switch on epic full-fibre broadband

Chester just got a major speed boost. Earlier this month (November 6th, 2025), we cranked up the excitement as iconic boyband Five helped us officially flip the switch on our full fibre broadband with an unforgettable night of community, connection, and chart-topping hits.

A local hero and a bright idea

The star of the show was giffgaff member Tao Chang, a local university lecturer who has called Chester home for seven years. His house was among the first in the UK to go live with our new full fibre broadband.

Taking a night off from their nationwide stadium tour, the boys of Five hit the button on an incredible neon light display illuminating Tao’s house, marking the official switch-on. From there, Tao and the party moved to his local, The Carlton Tavern, for the main event.

The ultimate switch-on party

The giffgaff Switch-On Party was one for the books. The ’90s boyband brought the house down with a live performance of their biggest anthems, including “Keep on Movin’" and “When the Lights Go Out”. It was the perfect way to celebrate this major connection milestone.

A new era of connection

We know how frustrating poor internet can be. Our recent research revealed that over half the nation experiences broadband issues at least twice a month, with over 340,000 people in the North West alone missing out on gig tickets due to slow connections. We decided to fix both problems: bringing fast, reliable broadband and one of the hottest acts of the ‘90s straight to Chester.

The celebration was a nostalgic nod to Five’s debut in 1999—just before broadband first arrived in Britain. Now, 25 years later, the band is helping us launch a new era of connection.

By working closely with 500 trialists earlier this year, we’ve rewritten the rules of broadband to give our members what they truly want: fast, simple, flexible broadband at fair value.

Around 100 lucky Chester locals gathered to celebrate the town becoming one of the first in the country to experience our full fibre service. Guests enjoyed tasty ‘bytes’ to eat, drinks, and two exclusive DJ sets from Chester-born DJ and Radio 6 presenter Nemone Metaxas. The energy was electric, the Wi-Fi unshakeable, and the only thing dropping all night was the beat!

Want to know if giffgaff broadband is live in your area? Enter your postcode on our dedicated broadband page and take a peek.