Sky’s Fibre Broadband To Rival BT And Virgin

Sky has announced plans to offer fibre-based broadband from this April in addition to extending its copper-based service to 88 per cent of the UK by the end of 2013.

The move into the fibre-based market will see the company offer speeds of up to 40Mbps, the same as BT currently offer – unsurprisingly, as it uses BT’s own fibre – but slower than Virgin’s 100Mbps connections. Sky’s Broadband Unlimited Fibre package will initially be available to 30 per cent of the UK, but coverage will increase as BT’s fibre roll-out spreads across the country.

The Sky’s the limit?

Potential customers can expect to pay £32.50 per month for the superfast broadband service, inclusive of Sky’s £12.50 line rental, and the package will be “a totally unlimited product that has no usage caps”.

Sky’s ‘normal’ copper-based broadband will also see growth as the company plans to extend its reach to a further 1.5 million homes within two years, an increase of six per cent, according to ZDNet. Sky claims it currently provides broadband for 17 per cent of the UK with 29 per cent of customers opting for the complete internet, television and satellite TV package.

In addition, the ISP will soon offer subscribers the ability to connect online from 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots at nationwide locations such as Caffe Nero, Wagamama and Pizza Express. The free Wi-Fi network comes courtesy of The Cloud, which Sky purchased last January.

“This year sees a number of enhancements that will ensure we create even more choice,” said Stephen van Rooyen, Managing Director of Sky’s Sales and Marketing Group. “Whether it’s the launch of free public Wi-Fi, extending our network into more parts of the UK, or adding fibre to our product mix, we are focused on meeting the demands of customers and on being their number one choice for home communications.”

Outside of broadband developments, Sky also recently revealed an internet TV service that will be offered on a subscription or rental-based model for non-TV customers. The service will be available for desktops, laptops, tablets and smart TVs.