Five former Blues - Gianfranco Zola, Eidur Gudjohnsen, William Gallas, Rob Green and Geremi – were back at Stamford Bridge recently to mark the achievement. Chelsea’s ‘5 Gs’ gathered on the pitch to welcome the arrival of our newest signing and fastest ever squad member – 5G.

The move to 5G follows Three’s commitment to support fan engagement at the stadium and beyond. The capacity of Three’s 5G means that everyone will be able to access a seamless and connected experience on a home matchday. Three customers with a 5G device can enjoy speeds of up to 250Mbps, allowing for much faster upload and download speeds, browsing and even HD streaming.

The low latency and high bandwidth of 5G means fans can enjoy the game, keep up with other scores, stream highlights in HD at half-time and video chat with friends to meet up for a drink and snack – a simple task that frustrates many fans when visiting stadiums.

Three has also expanded its 4G capacity, so even if you have an older device you will still be able to access improved in-stadium capabilities. The upgrade also paves the way for the ultimate connected fan experience. For instance, through an augmented reality overlay fans could study in-game player statistics such as distance covered, shots on target and passes made all in real-time.

Three’s commitment to bringing seamless 5G connection to the club also stretches beyond Stamford Bridge. Instalments throughout the stadium will not only bring fans and players closer together but also connect customers from the moment they step off the tube, bus or train. Plans are also in place to install 5G at both Cobham and Kingsmeadow.

Three is also working with Chelsea to improve network coverage for those living in the local area by installing microsites around the perimeter of the stadium to further offload the surrounding network and keep everyone connected.

Robert Finnegan, CEO at Three, said: ‘We are thrilled to be the first to deploy a fully operational 5G network here at Stamford Bridge. We are proud to partner with such an iconic club and to be able to help drive innovations in connectivity that will help shape the future fan experience at Chelsea FC and many other stadiums across the UK.

‘5G will fundamentally change the way we work and play and it will be a game-changer for the sports and entertainment business. With the multiple possibilities around fan engagement and stadium management we are excited at what the future holds.

Guy Laurence, Chelsea’s CEO, added: ‘What Three has achieved here at Stamford Bridge is ground-breaking and a testament to the strength of its 5G network. The possibilities of how we can enhance the fan and stadium experience are endless and our team is excited that it is now live.

‘Staying connected is essential for fans and mobile has become an integral part of matchdays. 5G enables us to begin to merge the physical and digital for ultimate fan experiences. With Three beside us, we will be able to deliver the next generation of connected entertainment and continue our quest to be one of the most innovative clubs in world football.’

Check out the latest 5G devices on Three, and pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra now