Latest news with #CityFibre
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Sky beats Virgin Media and BT as it rolls out UK's 'fastest' fibre broadband
Sky has unveiled its new Gigafast+ fibre broadband packages that can deliver internet speeds of up to 5Gbps, which it says is faster than any other major provider - but is that true? Sky says it is now the UK's 'fastest major broadband provider' as it rolls out a significant upgrade to its network. On Tuesday (July 15), Sky introduced its new Gigafast+ fibre broadband packages, capable of delivering internet speeds up to 5Gbps. In contrast, a conventional copper wire connection can only achieve speeds up to 80Mbps, while Virgin Media 's fastest broadband speeds offer roughly 1.1Gbps. Sky's new ultra-fast speeds are available on two packages, with 2.5Gbps Full Fibre Gigafast+ priced at £70 per month. Customers can double those speeds to 5Gbps Full Fibre Gigafast+ for an additional £10, costing £80 in total. These lightning-fast connections are delivered by Sky's new Gigafast+ hub, touted as its 'most advanced' router. The device utilises WiFi 7 technology, which delivers speeds twice as fast as WiFi 6, making it perfect for remote working, 4K streaming or gaming. Sky Gigafast+ is powered by Sky's collaboration with CityFibre, using the latter's full fibre network to deliver speeds to 4.5 million premises across the UK. However, there's a catch – these speeds aren't available for everyone, with only those on the CityFibre network currently able to benefit. Customers can check their eligibility by entering their postcode on the Sky website, reports the Mirror. Those eligible for the enhanced speeds also get Sky's WiFi Max add-on at no extra cost. Typically costing £4 per month, this service promises WiFi access throughout the home or money back, alongside advanced security features, parental controls, device priority, convenient engineer visits and backup Sky Mobile data for unplanned outages. New customers can also claim up to £100 towards switching fees if charged by their existing provider, with the One Touch Switch service meaning Sky handles the changeover on the customer's behalf. Announcing the new Gigafast+ packages, Sophia Ahmad, Chief Consumer Officer at Sky, said: "We're proud to be setting a new standard in UK broadband. "With speeds up to 5Gbps, our new Full Fibre Gigafast+ packages make Sky the UK's fastest major broadband provider. Combined with our existing full fibre range, we're offering more choice than ever before. Powered by cutting-edge WiFi 7 technology, these plans deliver smarter, faster, and more reliable connectivity to homes across the country." Whilst the exceptional speeds of Sky Gigafast+ are impressive, they arrive with quite a price tag. Those seeking a more budget-friendly connection may wish to consider Virgin's Gig1 Fibre Broadband (£34.99) or BT's Full Fibre 900 (£38.99), both of which can download a feature-length film in seconds. As Sky's Gigafast+ is a new product, it has yet to receive any reviews, but customers have been sharing their overall experiences with the provider on Trustpilot. One five-star review says: "I have been with Sky for over 11 years. "I have never had any problems with the broadband, amazing speed they always give me amazing deals, never gone down and never had to have an engineer come out. Would highly recommend." Another said: "I have just had Sky broadband updated from wire to FTTP. It was straightforward to order. I was kept fully informed. "The engineers arrived when they said they would and were very obliging in putting the new cable exactly where I wanted it. The result is a much faster and more reliable internet connection." Another customer shared a less positive experience, saying: "Sky provided generally acceptable broadband service for years. Their customer service staff are also typically useful, personable and clearly try their best. However, they were extremely slow at making fixes or solutions actually happen." While another happy customer said: "I am so made up with the outstanding service I have received, clear instructions and advice, outstanding manner, knowledge and excellent customer service skills. I am happy with Sky as my broadband provider. "Arranged an engineer quickly and efficiently and was detailed in asking questions and whilst waiting on a reply, was informative and friendly."
Stuff.tv
5 days ago
- Business
- Stuff.tv
Sky's new 5Gbps broadband packages are the fastest you can get in the UK, but there's a catch
There are plenty of broadband options to choose from, catering for all budgets. But if you're anything like me, you'll want the fastest you can get. Well, Sky's newest package is the fastest in town. In fact, it's the fastest broadband package you can get in the UK with speeds up to 5Gbps. Yes, 5Gbps – which is probably more than most know what to do with. But there's one major catch that means me (and many others) miss out on these speeds. Read more: The best Sky deals and packages The new Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ and Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ packages are the fastest broadband speeds from any major UK provider. They're warp speed compared to the plodding pace of most home connections. And they're powered by Sky's new Gigafast+ hub. It's a sleek little Wi-Fi 7 router that promises to handle everything from 4K streaming to endless video calls. Wi-Fi 7 means lower latency, less congestion and faster-than-you-can-blink connections across your home. There are even two 10Gbps Ethernet ports for those who think Wi-Fi is for amateurs. Sky's also throwing in its Wi-Fi Max service for free, which includes whole-home coverage guarantees, security tools, parental controls and even a bit of mobile data backup. But here's the catch: all this glorious speed is only available to homes on the CityFibre network. Which currently covers around 11% of UK households. So unless you're in one of the lucky few areas, you can forget about riding the 5Gbps train. I, unfortunately, do miss out. Sky's Openreach-based full fibre offerings are still around, but they top out well below these new figures. If you do happen to be blessed with CityFibre in your street, you can grab Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ from £70 a month or Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ from £80 a month. Both come with Wi-Fi Max included (normally worth at least £4 extra), and are available online, over the phone, or in Sky stores.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
UK's CityFibre secures $3 bln to invest in network, M&A
LONDON: British fibre broadband network CityFibre said on Monday it had agreed 2.26 billion pounds ($3.04 billion) of finance from its shareholders and existing lenders to fund network investment and acquire smaller rivals. Shareholders Infrastructure at Goldman Sachs Alternatives , Antin Infrastructure Partners, Mubadala Investment Company and Interogo Holding would provide 500 million pounds in new equity, it said, alongside a 960 million pound expansion of its existing debt facilities. It said it had also agreed a further 800 million pound loan facility to fund acquisitions as it drives consolidation. CityFibre, which operates Britain's third largest broadband network after BT and Virgin Media O2 , said the new financing would "supercharge" its next phase of growth.
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Openreach challenger CityFibre secures £2.3bn financing deal
The fibre broadband specialist, which is seeking to challenge BT's Openreach, said the deal would include £500 million in new funding from existing shareholders, such as Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi's sovereign investment fund Mubadala. The group has also expanded its current debt facilities by £960 million and agreed a further £800 million 'accordion' lending facility, which allows potential incremental increases in the debt. It comes after CityFibre said there was a 'material uncertainty' over its ability to continue without further funding in its accounts for 2023. However, the company said it has reported its first 'full year of profitability' over the past 12 months. The group is expected to snap up smaller alternative networks, called altnets, with the fresh funding in order to consolidate its position in the market. It comes amid pressure on independent firms from major players Openreach and Virgin Media O2, and high interest rates. CityFibre is seeking significant growth this year after striking a major deal with Sky. Greg Mesch, chief executive of CityFibre, said: 'This round of financing will supercharge CityFibre's next phase of growth as we consolidate the altnet sector, accelerate the pace of customer connections and unleash the full power of our market-leading network, for the benefit of all our partners, their customers and for the UK economy. 'There is huge opportunity ahead for CityFibre and it is testament to the success of the company that we have such strong backing from our lenders and shareholders. 'This multibillion-pound investment into critical digital infrastructure will deliver significant benefits across the UK, helping to realise potential and unlocking economic growth.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Today's announcement shows Britain is attracting billions of pounds of investment, including through the national wealth fund, driving growth across British businesses. 'Investing in our digital infrastructure is key to ensuring our economy is fit for the future.'
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Openreach challenger CityFibre secures £2.3bn financing deal
The fibre broadband specialist, which is seeking to challenge BT's Openreach, said the deal would include £500 million in new funding from existing shareholders, such as Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi's sovereign investment fund Mubadala. The group has also expanded its current debt facilities by £960 million and agreed a further £800 million 'accordion' lending facility, which allows potential incremental increases in the debt. It comes after CityFibre said there was a 'material uncertainty' over its ability to continue without further funding in its accounts for 2023. However, the company said it has reported its first 'full year of profitability' over the past 12 months. The group is expected to snap up smaller alternative networks, called altnets, with the fresh funding in order to consolidate its position in the market. It comes amid pressure on independent firms from major players Openreach and Virgin Media O2, and high interest rates. CityFibre is seeking significant growth this year after striking a major deal with Sky. Greg Mesch, chief executive of CityFibre, said: 'This round of financing will supercharge CityFibre's next phase of growth as we consolidate the altnet sector, accelerate the pace of customer connections and unleash the full power of our market-leading network, for the benefit of all our partners, their customers and for the UK economy. 'There is huge opportunity ahead for CityFibre and it is testament to the success of the company that we have such strong backing from our lenders and shareholders. 'This multibillion-pound investment into critical digital infrastructure will deliver significant benefits across the UK, helping to realise potential and unlocking economic growth.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Today's announcement shows Britain is attracting billions of pounds of investment, including through the national wealth fund, driving growth across British businesses. 'Investing in our digital infrastructure is key to ensuring our economy is fit for the future.'
