UPDATE ISP Sky Broadband Confirms O2 UK and BE Migration Timetable

Sky Broadband (BSkyB) have quietly updated their FAQ pages with more information about the forthcoming migration of O2 UK and BE Broadband fixed line ISP customers, which was previously expected to begin during the “autumn“. We now know that this process will start in October 2013 and should end sooner than expected.

According to Sky’s migration FAQ (here), any BE/O2 customers who don’t want to be moved over to Sky will be able to stay on their existing service until Spring 2014 “when we will be switching these off“. This confirms a significantly shorter process then the previously mooted 12-18 months. But you’ll have to call Sky on 08448 245 480 to let them know.

The update also confirms that Sky will conduct a phased migration by moving “customers in small groups” and the ISP states, as expected, that O2/BE customers won’t need a new router because they’ve “spent the last few months ensuring that everything can be done in the background“. But you might experience a brief 30 minute outage (unless something goes wrong of course).

Some additional information about phone lines and BT-based customers has also been released. For example, those on O2’s BT-based Connect package (i.e. people not within O2/Sky’s unbundled LLU network coverage) will be thrown on to the similar Sky Broadband Connect service.

What will happen to my home phone services?

• If you have an O2 Home Phone or BE landline service, this will move to Sky’s network at the same time as your broadband transfers.

• If you don’t already have a phone or landline service with O2 or BE then you won’t be expected to take Sky’s phone or landline service. You can take Sky Broadband without Sky Talk and Sky TV.

Similarly if you have a home phone package with O2 then you will be moved onto Sky Talk Anytime or Sky Talk Freetime (whichever most closely matches your current service). It should be said that the details are a bit different for BE Broadband’s customers and you can find more about that in last week’s article (here); we hope to learn more about this soon. O2 have also updated their FAQ with a few extra bits of information (here). Credits to people on the TB Forum for spotting this.

UPDATE 20th August 2013

The FAQ also notes that the spring 2014 closure date will do more than just kill off the old broadband platform, it will also take BE Broadband’s old email addresses with it too! – “From Spring 2014, customers who have joined us from BE (or stayed on that service) will no longer be able to use their BE email address.” Once again, another perfect example of why you should never entrust your email to a broadband provider. Credits to the BE Usergroup for that spot.