Sky is the UK’s most popular provider of subscription television services, with over 12 million households reportedly subscribing. Many of these subscribers have bundle deals from Sky, who since 2005 have offered broadband to its customers. Sky sells broadband as a standalone service— however, its most common for Sky to bundle broadband with TV deals. Sky also encourages its customers to switch to Sky broadband when their current contract term ends. Buying a bundle deal can also make it easy for customers to get set-up after they’ve moved house.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sky broadband & TV bundles.
What You Need to Know About Sky Broadband
Sky uses the BT Openreach network to deliver broadband into your home, which means you’ll need a telephone landline to get a deal from Sky that includes broadband. However, as is common among UK internet service providers (ISP’s), Sky advertises its broadband deals as one cost. Sky won’t give you what looks like an excellent price for broadband and then charge a line rental fee on top.
In addition to offering standalone broadband services, Sky also lets you combine broadband with TV, landline calls, and now even mobile phone packages.
Sky Broadband & TV Deals
Even taking out a basic Sky broadband and TV deal can give you access to over 300 TV channels.
If you want a fully-fledged entertainment package, you can add Sky Movies and Sky Sports to your bundle to enjoy everything Sky has to offer. One useful feature if you’re considering a Sky Sports subscription is that you can now choose specific sports if you don’t want a full package. For example, if you aren’t interested in football but love Formula 1, you can select a package that only gives you access to the Sky Sports F1 channel but no others.
As of June 2020, all Sky TV deals come with a Sky Q set-top box. The standard Sky Q box has 1TB storage and allows you to record three shows while watching a fourth, with up to 500 hours of storage space. The 2TB and 1TB UHD boxes will enable you to record six shows while watching a seventh and they offer additional storage space, too.
Sky Broadband & TV Deals with Landline Calls
We already know that you need a landline to get a Sky broadband & TV deal. You will get unlimited evening and weekend calls to UK landlines and mobiles included at no extra cost if you take out any Sky bundle deal.
If you need to use your landline during the day or make international calls, you can add these to your package for an added fee.
Sky Broadband & TV Deals with Mobile Contract
Sky now also offers mobile phone contract deals both as a standalone service and included with its bundles. Sky was the first UK mobile network to provide features like rolling unused data into next month and may offer you a good deal if you’re looking for a new phone contract.
Sky Broadband & TV Deals with Everything
If you want to pay one bill per month instead of four, then Sky lets you combine your broadband and TV deal with your landline and mobile packages if you wish.
However, if you want a broadband and TV deal with the included evening and weekend calls, you have this choice, too.
How Fast is Sky’s Broadband?
Sky used to offer three tiers of broadband, before simplifying their choices down to two.
Sky’s broadband packages come with extra optional add-ons to give you peace of mind, such as Sky Broadband Boost and Wi-Fi Guarantee. These add-ons are there to provide you with some contractual guarantees around things like minimum speeds in each room. If Sky doesn’t hit the minimum expectations, you can get some money back. Broadband Boost costs an extra £5 per month for remote daily line checks and broadband optimisation, and priority engineer visits. If you need to ensure internet access because you work from home, for example, it might be worth paying to ensure potential problems are identified and fixed quickly.
Sky is also part of Ofcom’s Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speed.
This commitment means Sky will provide you with a personalised estimate of the speed the broadband speed you will get. If you don’t get this speed, Sky has 30 days to provide a resolution. If Sky is unable to provide you with the previously advised broadband speed, you have the right to cancel the broadband element of your contract without paying any fees.
Sky Essential Broadband
Sky’s basic broadband package, with average advertised speeds of 11MB. Sky delivers this into your home via ADSL cables.
Sky Superfast Broadband
Sky previously offered two superfast packages, and 36MB and 59MB, but have now removed the 36MB package. Sky’s superfast package runs on the BT Openreach fibre optic network. BT Openreach delivers superfast internet connections to your local internet exchange cabinet on fibre optic cables, before coming into your home via copper cables.
Which Sky Package Do I Need?
It depends on who you live with and how you use the internet.
If you live alone or as part of a couple, and rarely use the internet, then the Sky essential broadband package will likely be suitable for you. While many opt for quicker broadband to enable a better streaming experience, Netflix says a 5MB connection is enough to allow one person to stream HD quality video.
In contrast, if you’re looking for a broadband package for a family home, and you consistently have numerous devices using the internet, you will be better off with superfast broadband.
Setting Up Sky Broadband in Your Home
Sky advertises an installation fee of “up to £20” for both its essential and superfast broadband packages. However, if you take out your broadband and TV deal together, they may waive this fee.
It usually takes around 14 days for Sky to take over the line from your current ISP. The only circumstances that would make this would take longer to do would be if you needed a landline installed. If you’re moving onto fibre-optic broadband for the first time, this shouldn’t delay the set-up time.
Setting Up Sky TV in Your Home
If you already have a Sky satellite dish installed at your property, you may not require an engineer visit. Sky will send you your equipment; you can plug your set-top box in yourself and get started straight away. Homes without a satellite dish will require an engineer visit both to install the dish and wire it to your set-top box wherever it is in your home.
Once you have set up your Sky Q box, all you need to do is connect it to your broadband, and you’re good to go.
Sky usually charges a one-off fee for its Sky Q box. However, beware that your contract will state that Sky are loaning you the box, so if you cancel your services you’ll be expected to send the box back to them or pay a further fee!
Find Sky Broadband & TV Deals with The Money Pig
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