ISP Sky Broadband UK Preparing New Home Router for H2 2023
Sources have informed ISPreview that UK ISP Sky Broadband (Sky), which sells FTTC and FTTP packages via Openreach’s national network, are aiming to introduce a new WiFi 6 capable router for their residential customers sometime around the end of Q3 and early Q4 2023.
Sky have so far done a fair job of keeping a lid on the details of their new kit this time, thus we don’t know much about the new device itself. But it’s fair to say that their current SkyBroadband Hub router (SR200 series) may struggle to get the most out of their fastest Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) plans and could do with a replacement.
However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Sky simply tweaked the WiFi 6 capable router (BR440) that they recently launched for their Sky Business customers – pictured above (here), which was manufactured by Arcadyan. The device included 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 4 x analogue phone ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (5GHz and 2.4GHz) with WPA2-PSK encryption and an external 12V 3A, 36W AC-DC power supply.
The consumer variant would almost certainly have fewer phone ports, and hopefully Sky will do the sensible thing and ensure that the latest WPA3 encryption standard is supported. We did ask Sky about all of this too, but a spokesperson merely said: “At this time we have nothing to share on [our next router], but we’ll certainly be in touch when we do.”
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.
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Probably also needs a 2.5Gb port to support the faster Openreach 1.2Gbps and 1.8gbps products when they eventually come out of pilot
I think that would be wise too, particularly if this is a device they’ll be using for the next few years. But on the other hand, Sky doesn’t really have a reputation for leading with modern router features – they usually seem to keep their kit as budget-level as possible.
It has to, IMHO. They will use the new router in Italy I presume, where competition is now already battling on 10Gbps speeds, so they will need to move if they don’t want to stay low in the market share. They still don’t have 2.5G and no news of them upgrading their OLTs yet to XGS, that will make them look weak in such a hypercompetitive market (and only based on whom “has it faster”).
1.2GBps? Sky still won’t upgrade me beyond 150MBps!
Oops! I meant bps, not Bps
I just look forward to getting more than 24 meg.
Fibre to the pole eight feet from the house, Openreach state:
We’re getting in touch to update you on our Ultrafast Full Fibre build. We’ve reviewed our build plans, and currently we can’t deliver Full Fibre to address.
There are lots of reasons for why our plans change – from engineering hazards to access permits. We review our build plans regularly as circumstances change. We hope this is just a temporary setback and that we can bring address back into our Full Fibre build plans in the future.
We’ll keep you updated and let you know immediately if anything changes.
Wonder who will get their Wi-Fi 6 router first, them or BT/EE
It won’t be based on the Sky Connect/Business hub. Don’t expect a flashy innovative router because that’s been put on the backburner
But 4G Backup Sim via USB will most likely be offered even though it will be using VMO2. Haven’t seen plans to support a G.Fast compatible modem.
@COA – Sky already offer a G.Fast compatible modem under the SR204 router.
Question is when Sky’s budget brand, Now Broadband, will get a better router.
The one I have (2018 vintage–Now BB Hub) in a second property (for ADSL2 service) has weak wireless reach (both bands–cannot cover the interior of a small bungalow, can’t pass through a former exterior wall that is now interior) and only 2 ethernet ports.
It’s not due to local channel congestion as there are not many other signals nearby–bandwidth is fine close to the router.
Any because it’s Sky, there are limited single box replacement options (most “value priced” options can’t do DHCP type 61 authentication), and I believe contractually with Now you are also not allowed to replace the supplied router. Currently I work around this with a powerline/WiFi bridge setup to create an additional WiFi signal in the “dark” part of the property, but it is not simple.
Does anyone know if you can request something better now (Sky Broadband Hub, which I have in my main property, is likely to be an improvement)
I’m out of contract (continuing because I have been offered a good retention price long term for phone and ADSL2), so I could change to another provider at a slightly increased cost (and Three 4g/5G is also an option, their router on monthly unlimited for 5G or SIM only 4G PAYG with a TP Link MR600 4g–need to work out what is likely to be cheaper for intermittent low usage)
NOW Broadband hasn’t even got around to launching FTTP packages, which is pretty poor.
Unless it’s deliberate segmentation, to create a captive value brand without taking away more profitable customers from Sky. I really can’t see a lack of Now FTTP being carelessness or accident.
from what some people have told me on different forums, you can now use a normal router with now broadband by using DHCPv6, also if your Wi-fi is that bad, try an extender of some sort.
@Mark Jackson, is it poor for not offering FTTP? it is supposed to be a budget ISP and as Andrew G said it may be done on purpose to get people who want FTTP to go to Sky, but it could also backfire. I would have thought they would have a link saying if you want FTTP than use sky.
Now broadband offer 36Mb/s for £25 a month on a 12-month contract, they offer 63Mb/s for people who can get it for the same price, which is strange. If I could get 63Mb/s via FTTc I would go for it.
@Ad47uk
The requirement for Sky is DHCP Option 61 and a text entry along the lines of “12345678@skydsl|12345678”. This may vary between different routers/software e.g. Asus had it as an entry on the WAN page whilst IIRC DD-WRT had me use a command on boot with the text in hex.
I have used third party hardware with both Sky (VDSL and FTTP) and Now (VDSL), for VDSL I used the old OR branded modems.
DHCPv6 gets you an IPv6 address. It doesn’t authenticate you with Sky or give IPv4 connectivity on their network.
I understand you can use routers that support DHCP Option 61 with Sky/Now, but the simple ones aren’t cheap and the cheap options aren’t simple (especially DD-WRT, which I don’t have the time to play with, and most cheap routers new or second hand not offering Option 61 at all).
I haven’t yet found a list of routers that support Option 61 to make finding a second hand one on eBay easier (most sellers won’t know and and takes a while to confirm support from most manufacturer websites. Can anyone point me to a good list?
I haven’t confirmed the contractual status of using an non-Sky/Now router but others have reported that it’s not allowed for Now.
It would be nice if Now would offer a better router]. For Now customers on ADSL/VSDL FTTC, it wouldn’t need GB ethernet ports (with upstream limited to 70mbs ish, GB ethernet is overspec; if/when Now offers FTTP then they could swap to a better router).
Your typical Now customer would just want better WiFi coverage (maybe with the ability to allow an upsell a Sky-like dedicated WiFi booster module), lower power draw, VoIP phone port (for 2025 analogue switchoff), and an optional battery backup module (to keep the VoIP alive in a power cut).
@XGS Is On, I thought the same as you, but according to a poster on Thinkk broadband it can be done, this is his post.
Not necessarily.
I’ve responded to you about this already.
For over 80% of Sky’s network (which includes Now Broadband) you do not need a router that supports DHCP Option 61 (what Sky call MER).
You can use any router that supports DHCPv6-PD (prefix delegation) in these areas.
It’s only on less than 20% of Sky’s network (that figure is falling) that you need to use DHCP Option 61.
This is due to a limitation within the Openreach OLT working with Sky’s unique setup.
Most routers support DHCPv6-PD. Most routers don’t support DHCP Option 61.
Why only Wifi6 in 2023? Especially when this router is probably expected to last 5 years at least. It feels totally pointless when Wifi 6E is out now and significantly better. Or really there are Wifi 7 routers coming out now and they should be offering this and they would really stand out from the crowd and make something long term futureproof.
Not sure there’s the need. Anybody knowledgeable enough to appreciate the difference between 6 and 6E really should be buying their own router from a competent brand, rather than rely on the cheap-as-chips garbage that most ISP’s offer. It’ll be built down to a price, and that always means forgoing the cutting edge stuff because that costs more until the technology costs come down.
What proportion of Sky punters would know, care or be able to fully benefit from a state of the art router? And from a commercial perspective, Sky will be thinking what the contracted speed a customer has, what the average life of a free-issue customer router is, how long the customer stays.
Maybe not you or me, but the vast majority of Sky customers will be on speeds in the range 50-75 Mbps, and even Wifi 6 is overkill.
I 100% agree with Andrew G. I got myself a new router a couple of months ago and it has Wi-Fi 6 and the only thing I have that supports wi-fi 6 is my Mac mini and I don’t use that on Wi-Fi. The majority of people are not going to notice the difference between 6 and 6E, in fact I wonder how many people will notice the difference between Wi-fi 5 and 6.
My phone has 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and it is fast enough even if used on a faster broadband service than what I have at home
I don’t understand this, we must get the best and fastest and yet most of the time it makes very little difference. ISPs need to stop giving out routers as if they were sweets
The big ISPs give out routers as it’s easier to troubleshoot issues when you can get data from the router.
@XGS is on, yes, I know that they give out routers as it is easier to trouble shoot, but they still give far too many of the things, it makes me wonder how many of the things end up in landfill.
Under WEEE rules, ISPs are supposed to offer take back and recycling arrangements.
Could they not integrate a Sky stream Puck into it , it would be a great marketing ploy?
Interesting idea, Freebox in France bundles an IPTV set top box within their router. I think it will end up being more confusing, people are used to “this is your wifi box, this is your tv box”.
They need something reliable to use with the new sky protect home insurance product.
Good that they’re finally looking to update their router but anyone with any sense will buy and use their own. Any that cost more than about 20 pence will far outperform the tat ISPs hand out.
An engineer of skys told me it would possibly be a rebranded comcast router.
Comcast has a DOCSIS network
When will BT/EE launch their Wi-Fi 6 router that’s been rumoured since early 2022?
Some client devices don’t support WPA3 and mixed mode WPA2/WPA3 defeats the object of WPA3 with its features, unless it is a tri-band router with a 5Ghz band reserved for WPA3 it seems pointless to support it on a dual-band router as it won’t support turning it on in the first place, eg: 1 bad apple that doesn’t support WPA3 will need a mixed WPA2/WPA3 mode on that wireless band then it might as well be WPA2!
With the wireless bands becoming congested on 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz a 6Ghz band is wise for future-proofing the technology but again you won’t get this with a cheap ISP wireless router…
And Sky isn’t known for good wireless router hardware!
Hi, I’ve talked to sky and I’ve been it’ll be part of a replacement service for Sky Boost called Sky Wifi Max. It will come along with updated “pod” boosters which plug into a socket like Virgins. I have also been told this information in text:
Our Best Ever Hub — Simple set up – WiFi 6 Technology
Best WiFi Guarantees — 25Mbps on Ultrafast & above 10Mbps on Superfast
WiFi Max Pods — Up to 3 Free Sky Max Pods to assure your WiFi Guarantee
Premium Home Visits — WiFi Visits at no extra cost, and at a time that suits you
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