By: MarkJ - 31 January, 2012 (8:21 AM) - Score: 7492 - Fixed Line Broadband, Wi-Fi, Video, Statistics, Special Offers
best sky BskyB broadband ukSky ( Sky Broadband ) has today announced that its broadband internet access (ISP) service, which is now home to a total of 3,651,000 subscribers (up by +166,000 from Q3-2011), will be extended to cover 88% of the UK by June 2013 (unbundled LLU network footprint).

Crucially the operator has also announced the launch of its first superfast Sky Broadband Unlimited Fibre (40Mbps) package for April 2012 and revealed more details about its public Wi-Fi plans!

Stephen van Rooyen, MD of Sky’s Sales and Marketing, said:

"Sky is reaching more homes than ever and those homes are taking more products from us. We are delighted with the response from our customers to the likes of Sky+ HD, Sky Broadband and Sky Go. However, we are a business built on innovation and we have a very exciting year ahead, whether with the launch of a brand new internet TV service, supercharging Sky Anytime+ or adding fibre and free WiFi to the UK’s fastest growing broadband service."

Sky's latest fourth quarter results (Q4-2011) managed to deliver strong overall performance. Broadband subscribers leapt by +166,000 (strongly up from the +150,000 added during Q3-2011) and revenue hit a new high of £3.4 billion. On top of that several major new services have been revealed, which we've summarised below.
New Superfast Unlimited Fibre Broadband Package

Sky plans to launch its first superfast broadband package using BT's FTTC technology - Sky Broadband Unlimited Fibre - during April 2012. The service will cost £20 per month (£50 one-off setup fee) and offer internet download speeds of up to 40Mbps (could later rise to 80Mbps after BT's related upgrades).

The new package will continue Sky's tradition of offering a truly "unlimited" service without a Fair Usage Policy (FUP) and "no usage caps". At launch the new product will be available to around 30% of UK homes, growing over time in line with BT’s fibre roll-out programme.

Expanding Traditional Broadband Coverage

Sky is extending its unbundled ( LLU ) network footprint to bring their traditional ADSL2+ based broadband services to 88% of the UK by June 2013 (currently 82%). As a result some 1.4 million extra homes will soon be covered by Sky’s network. Note that this is entirely separate from their forthcoming 'Fibre' package (above), which is based off BT's platform and not Sky's LLU.

Sky's Free Public WiFi Service

Sky plans to launch its public Wi-Fi (wireless internet) Hotspot service "shortly" (April 2012), which will be based off their The Cloud platform. The service will provide their existing SkyBroadband Unlimited customers with free access to more than 10,000 hotspots across the UK.

New Internet TV Service ( IPTV )

A new Internet TV service, which is due to launch during the first half of 2012, has also been revealed that will offer an additional choice for "people who don’t currently subscribe to a pay TV service". The new service will offer "instant and simple access" to a range of Sky content from Movies to sport and TV shows (initially only Sky Movies will be available).

We strongly suspect that this service will be based off the new YouView platform or This service will be based off Sky's alternative IPTV tech (not to be confused with their existing online TV services for current customers) and not the YouView platform. The service will come with a range of "flexible pricing" options and "no minimum contract" terms.

For example, customers will be able to either pay monthly for unlimited access to Sky Movies or rent a single movie on a pay-as-you-go basis. The service will also be available across a wide range of connected devices, including PCs, Macs, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, games consoles and connected TVs.
Today's significant new product and service announcements bode well for Sky which, despite the obvious lack of a competitive superfast broadband package or Wi-Fi service, has continued to grow. Adding those features and a new IPTV solution should quickly bring it up to speed; although it's yet to offer a mobile service like Virgin Media and TalkTalk UK.

UPDATE 11:27am

Sky have confirmed to ISPreview.co.uk that their new IPTV service will use their own technology and not the YouView platform. Sky also told us that they have "no other plans to announce" in regards to whether or not they will upgrade their 40Mbps fibre service to 80Mbps as BT deploys a similar change.
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Comments: 32

asa logoadslmax
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 9:26 AM
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About time! I know who I am going to switch to when my current FTTC contract expires. ;)
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 10:33 AM
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£20 a month FTTC with truely unlimited with no FUP or traffic management. BT and other isp's should do the same as well or will complaints to OFCOM not to allow Sky to get the cheaper FTTC.

Hard to believe it ? But hat off to Sky for cheaper broadband but it time to get cheaper Sky TV as well (knock off price in September 2012 - I hope!)
asa logoMarkJ
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 10:39 AM
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I think it will be interesting to see how their "unlimited" model holds up alongside the VULA FTTC technology, although at twice the price of their existing service it could be a tough sell.. especially if you already get a good ADSL2+ speed. Mind you that's a common problem for all of these new services.
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 10:45 AM
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I think BT will bite the bullet at Sky neck and might seek Ofcom not to allow it. THe cheapest FTTC in UK from BT is Plusnet Value £16.49 with usage allowance cap at 40GB - and the most expensive UNLIMITED FTTC (no usage allowance or FUP) is IDNet at £119.40 per month!
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 10:49 AM
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So, how on earth did Sky manage to get FTTC UNLIMITED at £20 a month from BT ? Where can Sky foot the rest of the bill from ? Knowing BT FTTC (Unlimited is very costy indeed like IDNet price of £119!)

I cannot see it happen from Ofcom. Other isp's and BT will be war against Sky soon.
asa logoMarkJ
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 10:50 AM
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Well VULA FTTC is cheaper than BTWholesale's standard FTTC, which is supplied to most ISPs. On top of that Sky has always seemed to subsidise its cheaper broadband and phone deals from their more expensive TV platform.
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 11:00 AM
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Why can't ISP's ditch BT Wholesales's standard FTTC and use VULA FTTC instead ?
asa logoMarkJ
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 11:35 AM
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It takes some extra investment for an ISP to rollout VULA, which is kind of a virtual LLU solution for FTTC connections. Most of the big ISPs will take this option but smaller providers might find it more difficult. No doubt there will be a better solution, eventually.
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 11:35 AM
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Newsflash:

Sky is now expanding SkyGo with Samsung and HTC Android next month and addition more channels on SkyGo:

http://corporate.sky.com/skyviews/sky_go/sky_go_to_launch_on_android_next_month#comments
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 11:38 AM
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Sorry wrong link above. The correct link is:

http://corporate.sky.com/skyviews?month=1&year=2012&author=b4d68a985c164a71bf5f62decda0
04d4
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 12:41 PM
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Sky will restrict 15 Meg limit between the hours of 6pm and midnight 7 days a week on FTTC.
asa logoSpencerUk
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 12:44 PM
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It will be interesting to see how this FTTC goes. I'm currently on Digital Region with RiPWiRE so getting my connection £5 cheaper would be good enough.

One does think however this network will be shot to monkey. with the amount of bandwidth being used on it.

Also note, nothing about upload.
Also note, nothing about traffic management in the statement either.
asa logodragoneast
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 12:49 PM
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Great news. Just a slight niggle I suppose that those of us early-adopters in the not-uncommon case where the local loop is rubbish, can expect see a speed reduction in the Sky stampede, until BT introduce vectoring (some hope!). With less chance than ever of investment in the local loop outside the final 10% or whatever!
asa logoDeduction
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 4:05 PM
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Bargain, and so the real competition begins in April, bring it on Sky nice one :)
asa logoSky
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 4:30 PM
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Virgin Media need to get the price reduced in April and other isp's too.
asa logoDeduction
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 4:35 PM
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It will be nice to see a new IPTV solution. Sky are also going for what they do best (or better than others) Movies and Sport. That will no doubt look gorgeous in proper HD over a unlimited fibre connection.
asa logoNew_Londoner
Posted: 31 January, 2012 - 9:51 PM
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Good to see yet more service providers exploiting the wholesale network, competition is good news for us consumers.
asa logodragoneast
Posted: 1 February, 2012 - 1:13 AM
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It's the conventional wisdom but is all competition good? The issue of broadband (like much infrstructure) is not just headlines but quality of service, and has investment suffered? Ironically, but basically because of their former Easynet backhaul network as an alternative to BT Wholesale, I think Sky are a beacon in quality of service.

In my view the history of telecomms regulation in the UK is too much emphasis on competition, and negligible interest in investment. Perhaps granny was right when she said you can have too much of a good thing.
asa logoTavistock Superfast Broadband
Posted: 1 February, 2012 - 2:20 AM
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This adds even more to the frustration of UK Superfast Fibre Broadband roll-out. Products and services being added to the have and have-nots areas for good measure.

Sky is new to Tavistock Telephone Exchange - just in time to ensure the daily torture of associated advertising for superfast broadband and these products has maximum impact, as they are dangled in front of the digital desert peasantry residing in West Devon.
asa logoNew_Londoner
Posted: 1 February, 2012 - 7:46 AM
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Just noticed that, according to TBB, the upload is only 2Mbps. So not quite such an attractive price as it first seemed, I wouldn't want to trade down from my 10Mbps+ upload, however I'm sure many will be tempted from ADSL.
asa logoDeduction
Posted: 1 February, 2012 - 6:37 PM
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TBB spreads FUD like yourself the upload speed has not been confirmed anywhere.
asa logoEdetc
Posted: 1 February, 2012 - 11:55 PM
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Any ideas as to what router and modem sky will supply with this new fttc product.As far as i'm aware none of their current modem/routers have dual function the like the bt home hub 3 with both phone and Ethernet internet ports.

Any ideas as to whether sky will adopt a new modem router for both new adsl and fttc customers ready for when people upgrade to fiber when it becomes more available like the home hub 3 or the NETGEAR N600 and just supply the vdsl modem when people upgrade, or just give a new stand alone router to fttc customers and standard modem routers for adsl customers as the n600 or Draytek Vigor 2830N aren't cheep?
asa logoNew_Londoner
Posted: 2 February, 2012 - 5:45 AM
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@Deduction
TBB checked with Sky directly to confirm the 2Mbps the upload speed. Don't see it as a negative point, just happens not to suit me.
asa logoBriecheese Totalpong
Posted: 2 February, 2012 - 10:56 AM
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No link on skys sites confirms the upload rate.
asa logoNew_Londoner
Posted: 2 February, 2012 - 4:43 PM
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^^^^

See here

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/fibre/t/4088161-re-sky-fttc-where-are-people-getting-2mb-upload-from.html
asa logoEdetc
Posted: 2 February, 2012 - 10:52 PM
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this looks interesting

http://nextgeneration.sky.com/troubleshooting/
asa logoEdetc
Posted: 2 February, 2012 - 11:18 PM
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http://corporate.sky.com/investors/press_releases/2012/sky_builds_on_broadband_growth_with_increased_coverage_10000_wifi_hots
pots_and_new_fibre_launch

this confirms upload speed of 2 unfortunately
asa logoDeduction
Posted: 3 February, 2012 - 12:09 AM
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Nowhere in that sky link does it mention 2Mb uprates from what i see. Do my eyes deceive me? It quotes 40Mb down but not uprates.

Nothing official from what i see anywhere, a BT supporter trying to insist some other website is correct is far from official. In fact the amount of news TBB had wrong last year by quoting unofficial things is shocking!
Either way still a bargain, sky is truely unlimited.
asa logoNew_Londoner
Posted: 3 February, 2012 - 5:46 AM
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@Deduction
Agree it still looks good value, would consider if on ADSL or 30Mbps cable, didn't want much faster upload speeds.
asa logozemadeiran
Posted: 3 February, 2012 - 9:37 AM
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In regards to capacity for unlimited access, SKY have recently upgraded their north south fiber capacity to 7tbps.

You can independently verify this yourselves.

Back haul is the name of the game and if they have the capacity they can offer unlimited traffic. There is no reason not to offer high upload speeds which of course helps home workers and in turn reduces wasted travel time, congestion and pollution.

Portugal are just about to launch 100mbps 4g lte which of course will happen in the UK. When this does happen, the broadband playing field will change completely and maybe even SKY will get in on the act!

Rural communities can easily be served by next gen lte services with fiber back haul from the towers.

Openreach are definitely in for a hammering...

Anyone who says otherwise is a wasteman!
asa logoDeduction
Posted: 4 February, 2012 - 3:10 AM
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quote"Openreach are definitely in for a hammering...

Anyone who says otherwise is a wasteman! "

Thers one of them around here ;)
asa logosteve
Posted: 19 February, 2012 - 2:44 AM
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Will customers be able to have the option of fastpath on this fiber service , i for one would be hoping they will,
problem is with sky is that they are currently a one size fits all mass market isp, who won't cater for online gamers and the like,



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