Sky Launch WiFi 6 Hub and 4G Dongle for UK Biz Broadband Users UPDATE3
Sky’s (Sky Broadband) ISP sibling for small business customers, Sky Connect, has today moved to keep up with competitors by launching a new WiFi 6 capable Hub (broadband router) and 4G Dongle (i.e. mobile data as an automatic backup) with new capabilities, such as better security and guest Wi-Fi.
Sadly, we don’t get a lot of detail about the new router, but Sky states that customers will now be able to create a separate password protected network for visitors to their business premises (Guest Wi-Fi is a fairly common feature these days).
On top of that, with the new SecurityEdge feature, customers will also benefit from an “advanced cybersecurity layer“, with threats automatically scanned for every five minutes to protect any device connected to WiFi against risks such as malware and phishing.
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However, it’s the addition of WiFi 6 support that will probably be most attractive, not least since this is something that their consumer Sky Broadband division has yet to adopt into their own Hub. The router is also said to support connectivity for up to 100 devices and is made from 85% recycled plastic.
Stacey Hill, Director of Sales and Operations at Sky Connect, said:
“The cost-of-living crisis is a huge concern for consumers and small businesses alike. But for those spending the most time at home, increasing energy bills are understandably putting a strain on personal finances. Whilst it’s great to see these workers supporting their local small businesses during an increasingly challenging time for hospitality, it’ll be important that SMEs create a working environment that keeps these more regular customers coming back. This means offering a reliable and secure guest WiFi service that improves customers overall experience.”
We should point out that the 4G (mobile broadband) backup feature (i.e. for if your fixed line connection fails) is nothing new to Sky Connect, thus we’re not entirely sure what the new Dongle can do that the previous one couldn’t. We’ve requested more details on both devices.
UPDATE 2:29pm
We’ve managed to get a picture of the new router and have added it to this article, above. Further details are due to follow.
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UPDATE 5:11pm
Not a lot of details to add, but the Hub also supports up to 4 telephone lines – without the need for an external ATA device. The router also includes 1Gbit ports: 1 LAN/WAN port and 3 LAN ports. But that seems to be all the detail we’re going to get, which isn’t a lot.
UPDATE 15th Feb 2023
Good news, we’ve got a bit more detail after all.
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Router Specs
– Model Number: BR440
– Manufactured by Arcadyan
– Ethernet Ports: 4 X 1Gbps Ports
– Voice Ports: 4 X Analogue Telephone Ports
– USB: 1 X USB 3.0 Type-A Port
– Wi-Fi: Concurrent dual band Wi-Fi 6 (5GHz and 2.4GHz (802.11ax)) with WPA2-PSK encryption
– External 12V, 3A, 36W AC-DC power supply
On the 4G Dongle. Sky’s previous 4G solution for back-up was a separately powered CPE that required a managed install and a separate power supply. It connected all critical devices through a second SSID. The new Dongle removes install complexity and additional power supply requirements. A seamless failover that is customisable to support both Private and Guest Wi-Fi. The customer has the option to limit the failover to their private Wi-Fi only.
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, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I think the previous 4G backup was a reasonably expensive Cradlepoint device so would imagine part of the reason for this change is to bring the costs down.
Here’s the setup guide
https://businessconnect.sky.com/business/help/home/help-sky-business-broadband/setup-guides-for-your-business-broadband/setting-up-your-sky-hub-4G/articles/setup-guides-for-your-business-broadband-4g
The only D-Link dongle I can see is the DWM-222 which is a Cat4 device. The Cradlepoint IBR900 is Cat11 or Cat18 depending on what is ordered.
Who would have thought BT/EE would be one of the last to provide a WiFi 6 Hub. The smart hub 2 which is just a smart hub 1 with a phone port came out in 2016.
This is only for business customers not residental yet – Also BT/EE are trialing the Hub 3 just now with a potential release late Q2
2018 and DECT
@Netz the smart hub 1 came out in 2016, the smart hub 2’s SoC is pretty much identical, only DECT was added, so us poor folk on FTTP are still being provided 2016 tech…
ISP’s need to get futureproof and start adding multi-gig ports, at least the WAN and 1 LAN.
That’d be nice. But, lol, there are routers out there which only have 1x 2.5GbE port, that you can switch between LAN and WAN. For example there’s the Asus AXE7800, Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300, or the Xiaomi Mi AIoT AX9000. So there’s the danger ISPs skimp and buy something similar.
I moved to Plusnet on November from BT (Same company) and recently went to their 80MB FTTP. A badged BT Hub 2 running at low to mid 70s at £23.99 a month. Very happy indeed. Sky own Now Broadband presumably to compete with Plusnet, it will be interesting to see if Now Broadband gets the Sky Q Hubs successor now Sky have moved on from it.
“it will be interesting to see if Now Broadband gets the Sky Q Hubs successor now Sky have moved on from it.”
Sky haven’t moved on from it. This is only for their business customers.
IPv6 support?
Sky adopted IPv6 a long time ago, so I’d assume that’s the same for Sky Connect, but not confirmed.
This new WiFi 6 is it every body or for business only
Is that just for business or is it for every body
The article is about Sky Connect, Sky’s small business division, and it also includes the line: “not least since this is something that their consumer Sky Broadband division has yet to adopt into their own Hub.”
So it’s for their biz customers. I’ve asked if Sky can say when residential users might see a new router, although there’s nothing solid yet. But I suspect they might want to launch one when the Gigafast package returns, since their existing kit struggles to deliver gigabit speeds.
I signed up to Sky Connect’s FTTP package in December 2022. They’re not at all as professional as I had hoped they would have been as a business ISP. A letdown really.
The 4G backup is not a Cradlepoint IBR900 but Sky provided a Cradlepoint IBR600C.
The IBR600C has one GbE port and one Fast Ethernet port, so as you can imagine quite terrible as a failover device. It’ll slow your network right down due to the 10/100 port and worse still only has a hardware throughput of 75Mbps including whilst not in failover.
The 4G backup service is not at all fit for purpose and they’re not interested in doing anything about it for existing customers. It’s basically a case of tough luck and you can’t have the new router and 4G dongle instead.
Also the Sky router (BR203 which is a repurposed SR203) they provided only has 4 LAN ports, one of which is repurposed as a WAN port as I’ve got FTTP. This leaves 3 ports. Then of those 3 remaining ports one goes to the AudioCodes VoIP device and one to the Cradlepoint IBR600C. So you only have one port to use for your devices unless you add your own switch. No guest WiFi with the BR203 either.
Nobody seems to be talking about the lack of WPA3 support..