UK ISP Sky Broadband Launch Cheap 25GB Capped Superfast FTTC Package

Internet provider Sky Broadband (Sky) has today launched a new entry-level “Sky Fibre” superfast broadband (i.e. up to 38Mbps FTTC) service, which forgoes the past focus on unlimited usage allowances in favour of a 25GB data cap and a lower standard price of £10 per month (note: their unlimited options cost from £20 per month, with 76Mbps pushing that to £30).

As usual customers will be expected to take Sky’s Phone Line Rental at £16.40 a month and there’s also a one-off £30 activation fee to pay, not to mention an 18 month contract. Otherwise the new package comes will all the familiar extras like a free SkyHub (SR102) VDSL router (delivery charge of £6.95), free access to TheCloud’s UK WiFi hotspots, inclusive weekend UK calls and Sky Shield (Parental Controls and Anti-Malware).

Lyssa McGowan, Director of SkyBroadband, said:

“We’re always looking to give customers even more reasons to choose Sky. Sky Fibre means we can now offer superfast speeds for just £10 a month – the lowest standard price in the UK. It’s perfect for those who want to try fibre for the first time.”

In the small print Sky also states that they’re “not currently monitoring your usage” and as a result customers who take the new product won’t be able to see their usage, although Sky have promised to send out usage warnings when the limit is exceeded; at least they will once they get around to actually monitoring your data consumption. Sky’s Usage Policy adds a bit more detail and notes that customers who twice exceed the limit in any 6 month period may be upgraded to an unlimited package.

Admittedly all of this might seem a bit odd given that Sky has tended to spend the past few years focusing very intently upon the merits of their “truly unlimited broadband” packages, which has fuelled their success as they were also one of the first ISPs to take such a path and stick to it; others tended to sway between unlimited and capped packages until the former became a standard expectation.

On the other hand it’s easy to forget that Sky also offers a basic broadband service with a 2GB usage cap (Sky Broadband Lite), which is offered for free to their TV and Phone customers, but it rarely receives much in the way of direct promotion.

Otherwise the matter of whether or not this is the “lowest standard price in the UK” depends very much on your base of comparison. Sky has clearly chosen its words carefully because “standard price” excludes the impact of special offers, which would change the value calculation (e.g. TalkTalk and BT have both recently offered free or £5 per month FTTC deals, with the forming being based off “unlimited” usage) and over the course of a contract term that can have a big impact.