Sky dishes out quicker broadband speeds - is it worth the price?

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Sky has dropped a new 2.5Gbps plan
Brits are set to experience lightning-fast internet as Sky Broadband announces it's boosting speeds up to 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps, a significant leap from the previous 1Gbps (1000Mbps) service.
These ultra-fast speeds mean you can download hefty files in seconds, sync your entire music library instantly, and stream in the highest quality across several devices without any lag.
Sky Broadband's new offerings are certainly impressive, but they come with a hefty price tag, costing £70 a month for the 2.5Gbps service and £80 a month for the 5Gbps service.
The more affordable Sky Full Fibre Gigabit service, which delivers 900Mbps, is almost half the cost at £38 a month, although it doesn't include Sky's WiFi Max, which is part of the package with the new Gigafast+ services.
Included with Sky's Gigafast+ service is the latest router, the Gigafast+ hub, which utilises WiFi 7 technology to ensure a super-fast connection for all your devices. This is bolstered by Sky's WiFi Max service, typically an additional £4 a month, reports the Express.
Sky adds much quicker broadband speeds
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Opting for Sky's less expensive Gigafast service and adding WiFi Max still saves you £38 a month compared to the premium package.
Sky stands out as the first "mainstream" provider to offer these blistering speeds, setting a benchmark that competitors like BT or Virgin Media have yet to match. Although there are more economical 1Gbps options available, Sky's pricing for the higher speeds seems reasonable in comparison.
Here are the top broadband deals being offered by Sky's competitors on gigabit and faster services:.
Comparing these prices, Sky Broadband's £70 a month appears to be a competitive rate, but also consider that the recent Virgin Media-O2 merger has resulted in the Mega Volt bundle, which is £79.99 a month, but provides you with 1130Mbps broadband, a substantial TV package, and an unlimited O2 SIM.
These aren't your only options: Community Fibre offers a 5Gbps for £59 a month, though you'll need to verify if your area is covered, while Hyperoptic offers 1Gbps broadband for £37 a month and there are other providers as well.
The crucial factor is that you're selecting a broadband deal that not only suits your budget, but also meets your needs. If you simply have poor WiFi in your home, then acquiring a mesh router might resolve that issue, rather than pursuing faster speeds.
However, if you're a video editor working from home with large files being transferred online, then it might be that 5Gbps provides you with the connectivity you require. As always with broadband, check the price increases and the length of the contract too, so you have an understanding of the long-term costs.
Sky Broadband's new service is made possible thanks to full fibre connections to the home supplied by CityFibre. You can check if you can get the service on Sky's website, but what you do once you have that connection is important too.
Within your home, the router you utilise is crucial, which is why Sky's new Gigafast+ services are paired with the fresh Gigafast+ hub. The enhanced WiFi 7 connectivity allows a greater number of devices to connect at swifter speeds, preventing any bottleneck.
However, to fully benefit from that WiFi, your gadgets must be WiFi 7 compatible as well, otherwise they will default to the slower WiFi standard they support. WiFi 7 is only supported on the latest devices, such as the iPhone 16, the iPhone 15 doesn't have it.
It's worth keeping this in mind because while cutting-edge technology may seem attractive, this is about future-proofing and ensuring the provision of high-speed connectivity moving forward. Currently, if you're seeking the best gigabit broadband deal, then choosing the Virgin Media or Plusnet deals is a more cost-effective option.