PRICE IS RIGHT
Mobile network launching bargain £10 broadband as merger sparks price war
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A DISCOUNT mobile provider with millions of customers is launching broadband for the first time - and it costs just £10 a month.
Giffgaff, owned by larger firm O2, is set to roll out low-priced full fibre for 500 customers as part of a trial.
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Households can apply for the 500Mbps speed broadband on Giffgaff's website and wait to be selected.
They have to go to www.giffgaff.com/broadband/register-interest and enter their personal details.
The move comes with a major £15billion merger between Vodafone and Three set to complete, which appears to have sparked a broadband price war.
The 500 Giffgaff customers selected for the trial will be charged £10 a month for the broadband over 12 months.
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Plus, a £100 bonus will be paid in two £50 instalments following feedback on the broadband package.
The first £50 will be paid upon installation and the second £50 one month after this.
Ash Schofield, chief executive of Giffgaff, said in a community post: "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 latest tech, with the feedback of our members to build something better."
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He added: "Broadband customers are telling us they are frustrated with their current service so we’ll listen to what they have to say and build better broadband, together."
The move from Giffgaff, which first launched in 2009, comes as major players Vodafone and Three are set to complete a £15billion merger in the coming weeks.
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Both firms announced the merger in 2023, which is bringing 27million customers together under one network.
The merger was approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in December, despite the regulator warning it could lead to higher prices for customers.
However, the new broadband offer from Giffgaff suggests the merger could lead to better offerings for customers.
BT, which owns EE, is also reportedly considering the launch of a new discount mobile service and is stepping up its investment in value brand Plusnet.
Meanwhile, Vodafone and Three are considering launching a TV service following their merger, .
Of course, before considering applying for the Giffgaff trial, it's worth shopping around to see if you can find a better deal through price comparison sites.
However, we had a quick look and couldn't find a full fibre broadband deal with 500Mbps or similar speeds for less than £10 a month.
Virgin Media is offering a broadband deal with 516Mbps in South-East London but it costs £32.99 a month.
Meanwhile, Sky is offering a 500Mbps deal in the same coverage area for £28 a month.
Ernest Doku, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, said: "While there is no further detail on when giffgaff’s broadband will fully roll out, if you’re out of contract and looking to save some money on your broadband, it could be worth registering your interest to see if you could take part in the trial.
"If you don’t end up being eligible, or the trial format isn’t for you, there are still several smaller, regional broadband providers that also act as challenger brands to the larger providers.
"These full-fibre providers, such as Trooli, Hyperoptic and Youfibre, often offer faster speeds at lower prices and many don’t raise their prices mid-contract."
It comes after Which?'s latest annual mobile phone survey revealed Giffgaff came sixth highest in a list of 16, beating a number of bigger names.
How to save money on broadband
Start by looking for the best deal, if you're coming to the end of your current contract.
You can do this by scouring price comparison websites like Uswitch, Compare the Market or MoneySuperMarket.
If you've found a deal which is better than the new one your current firm is offering you, you can try haggling it down to a lower price.
If you're on certain benefits like Universal Credit, it's worth checking if you're eligible for a social tariff too.
The are usually cheaper than standard deals and can save you £100s.
Regulator Ofcom has a full list of providers offering social tariffs on its website.
You can find it via www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/social-tariffs.
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It can be cost-effective to bundle TV, broadband and mobile deals together as well.
But, of course, only bundle these services together if you actually need them, not just because you've spotted a good offer.
How to save on broadband and TV bills
HERE'S how to save money on your broadband and TV bills:
Audit your subscriptions
If you've got multiple subscriptions to various on-demand services, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Sky consider whether you need them all.
Could you even just get by with Freeview, which couldn't cost you anything extra each month for TV.
Also make sure you're not paying for Netflix twice via Sky and directly.
Haggle for a discount
If you want to stay with your provider, check prices elsewhere to set a benchmark and then call its customer services and threaten to leave unless it price matches or lowers your bill.
Switch and save
If you don't want to stay with your current provider check if you can cancel your contract penalty free and switch to a cheaper provider.
A comparison site, such as or , will help you find the best deal for free.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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