ISP Sky Broadband UK Launch ‘New’ 35Mbps Superfast Package
UK ISP Sky Broadband has today launched a “brand-new” Superfast 35 package, which offers average advertised download speeds of 36Mbps (with a “speed guarantee” of 25Mbps) and uploads of 9Mbps for the lower price of £25 per month via Openreach’s national FTTC (VDSL2) and FTTP networks. But it’s not all that ‘new’.
The “brand-new” package is effectively just a revival of the old Sky Fibre Unlimited (FTTC) package from several years ago, which existed on a similar 40Mbps Openreach tier until Sky decided to simplify their line-up via a single ‘Superfast Broadband‘ package on the 80Mbps tier (dropping back to slower tiers for slower lines).
New customers can expect to receive the Sky Hub (SR203 / Hub 4.2) router, a VoIP based home phone service, parental controls, nuisance call filtering and unlimited usage on an 18-month contract term. The package also comes attached to Sky’s Speed Guarantee, which will enable customers to claim money back if the connection performance drops below the guaranteed download rate.
The “new” Superfast 35 package will come attached to a “standard set-up” fee of £19.99 (£9.95 on some discounts). The £25 per month price is also a launch offer, with the normal price returning to £35.50 per month post-contract. This is less attractive when you consider that their existing 59Mbps package was only recently offered at £25 per month on a prior discount (currently £28), and oddly its post-contract price is £33 per month.
Aman Bhatti, Director of Propositions at Sky Broadband, said:
“The launch of Superfast 35 demonstrates Sky Broadband’s commitment to providing customers with a range of broadband speeds tailored to their needs. From our latest package for smaller households to our Ultrafast speeds for busy, connected homes, all delivered through our reliable network with outstanding customer service.”
Sky’s decision to effectively resuscitate the old package – albeit under a different name – is certainly an unusual move, not least because it comes during a period when most providers are focused on launching ultrafast and gigabit-capable broadband products.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook and Linkedin.
« Gov Levelling Up Plan Confirms Nationwide Gigabit Broadband for 2030
Latest UK ISP News
- FTTP (5533)
- BT (3518)
- Politics (2542)
- Openreach (2299)
- Business (2267)
- Building Digital UK (2247)
- FTTC (2045)
- Mobile Broadband (1978)
- Statistics (1790)
- 4G (1669)
- Virgin Media (1621)
- Ofcom Regulation (1466)
- Fibre Optic (1396)
- Wireless Internet (1392)
- FTTH (1382)
Firstly why even bother creating that package.
Secondly, it is a good price, but again back to the first. why !
You answered your own question – price. Some people neither need or want any faster so why pay more?
Except post-contract, where it becomes weirdly more expensive than their faster ‘Superfast’ tier.
It’s not a good price though. You can get almost 70mb with NowBroadband for £21 a month & it uses the same hardware as Sky.
I am paying £19 a month for 80MB including phoneline via Sky so I am hoping they don’t plan to offer this when my contract is up in April
I know i answered my own question (it was intentional)
While most people don’t “think” they need faster internet, it’s inevitable that they will indeed need to upgrade. and there are better deals to be had.
Offering this on a FTTC network that’s soon to be replaced is not an amazing move either, FTTP on the other hand is even worse. there are better deals to be had for that price, that offer a better speed. but i guess people just like chucking money away or not looking around, and that’s fine.
but for the modern user, no.
A reminder Sky Broadband is Sky’s way of either improving take-up of or increasing retention of their TV services. Customers taking multiple services are easier to retain than those on a single service.
Selling people FTTC where FTTP isn’t available, they will not sell FTTC if they could be selling FTTP due to the Equinox discount scheme, makes sense. They can ‘sell’ customers on free upgrades to super-reliable, full fibre broadband later on.
RE Anonymous’ comment about increasing retentions.
I’ve seen Sky “fibre” customers with VOIP complaining that they’d been told by their chosen new provider that they couldn’t migrate them from Sky without them losing their long held landline phone number. I believe the gaining ISP couldn’t transfer their now voip based number back to an analogue phone line, which may be good for retentions, currently the best solution appeared to be to pay to migrate the number to another VOIP provider first.
I am with the sky last 8 years and 3 different addresses and never had any serious problems. Always get decent price every time renew contract.
My current Address getting 78mbps and 19mbps upload on copper FTTC.
Again it’s depends on areas.
“Superfast Broadband‘ package on the 80Mbps tier (dropping back to slower tiers for slower lines).”
I’m on that, my line is capable of 44Mbps and it used to be rock solid at that speed until I resigned to “Superfast Broadband”. Now it is a solid 40Mbps.
Thanks for renewing – as a reward we’ll charge you similar to your previous offer but drop your speed by 10% and deny we have done so. I suppose they pay O.R. less for a 40Mbps than an 80Mbps connection ?
I think it’s depends how far you from street cabins.
More that you’d bring down the average on the superfast package. The cost difference to them is minimal.
I think the criteria is you have to have a line capable of 50+Mbps in order for them to give you an 80 as opposed to a 40Mbps connection. Sky flatly deny this though.
I do know that my router connects at exactly 40Mbps, never a fraction higher or lower despite the odd reboot. So it is an artificial limit as opposed to being as fast as the line could support.
35 pounds for 35 meg?
that is stupid!
yes a lot of people might not go to that and get a better deal, but that is a bad
alternative if you forget!
Yep youfibre offer 1000 up / 1000 down for 40 a month hopefully that will be available in the next year but I will take who ever can get me fttp first I am so desperate!
This is totally irrelevant to the story but given it mentioned FTTP. I wish sky would go with CityFibre. Any reason why they haven’t?
Does it even get IPv6 ?
Sky are stupid to use 35Meg for £35 a month. People’s aren’t that stupid and no ones will not purchase this!
Sky must drop the price down to £20 a month for 35Meg.
It is £25 a month
I love reading the comments on here. Most people thing they know more than a multi-billion corporation than sky. As someone who has a close relation with them. We know what we’re doing 😉
Ripping off customers ???
Just to add I remember all your very very very positive comments about Sky Glass when it was launched so your declaration today that you have a “close relation with them” makes a lot more sense now as only someone in this position would think Sky Glass is any good.
Most of the alt net suppliers are not open networks so Sky are probably facing competition from them to you pay £35 plus for a Sky FTTC connection which may only give you 35M or pay £25 for a 100M connection ?
Garbage broadband sounds like African speeds