Sky Broadband Ultrafast and Ultrafast Plus Review
If you’re looking for faster fiber options, Sky has two plans to choose from: Broadband Ultrafast and Ultrafast Plus. These plans come with average download speeds of 145Mbps and 500Mbps.
Sky also has a Gigafast plan with an average download speed of 910Mbps. In this review, we’ll compare these plans, their speeds, features, and pricing.
Sky Ultrafast Broadband Plans
Sky Broadband Ultrafast is perfect for connecting multiple devices, online gaming, and streaming in HD and 4K. The download speed is 145Mbps, and it only takes 4 minutes to download a 5GB file.
Sky Broadband Ultrafast Plus is more than three times faster than Sky Broadband Ultrafast (145 Mbps vs 500 Mbps). The ultrafast speeds of Ultrafast Plus are perfect for busy homes that need to connect many devices simultaneously. Ultrafast Plus is recommended for online gaming and 4K streaming, as high-speed connections ensure the best experience and reliability. Ultrafast Plus speeds (500Mbps) download a 5GB file in just 90 seconds.
Sky Gigafast Broadband is the best plan for multiple devices that need to be connected at the same time. It’s 2x faster than Ultrafast Plus, but it’s not cheap, and it’s available in selected areas of the UK.
Is Sky Ultrafast Broadband any good?
Sky broadband is highly rated for its customer service and reliable connectivity and speed. Here are the other best features:
- Sky offers a speed guarantee, ensuring that if you are not satisfied with the speed of your connection, you will receive your money back.
- The latest Sky Broadband Hub is included.
- You get option to bundle your ultrafast broadband with a home phone and Sky TV package.
- You get free extras like Sky public WiFi allowing you to stay connected even when you’re away from home,
On the downside, Sky ultrafast broadband isn’t as widely available as Virgin Media’s. It has limited availability, so access will depend on your location.
Currently, 30% of UK households have access to Sky Broadband Ultrafast (145Mbps), while 25% of UK households have access to the Ultrafast Plus (500Mbps) service.
Features
All Sky fibre broadband packages come with a WiFi Hub, speed guarantee, and online protection. If you want to add features like Sky TV and Broadband Boost, they will cost extra.
Home Phone
The Ultrafast plan provides a landline and pay-as-you-go (PAYG) calls. For Ultrafast Plus and Gigafast customers, internet calls (VoIP) are an option. If necessary, you can add suitable call plans to meet your needs.
Router
Sky ultrafast broadband customers receive the latest Sky Q Hub 2 router. If you want to optimise your WiFi speeds, optional Booster devices are also available.
Sky TV add-on
You can add Sky TV subscriptions to your plan. These subscriptions include the basic Signature pack, Sky Sports, Sky TV channels, Sky Cinema, and a variety of other entertainment channels.
Sky Fibre Broadband Options
Sky offers two affordable FTTC fibre plans – Superfast 35 and Superfast, with average download speeds of 36Mbps and 59Mbps respectively. These plans are available to more than 90% of the UK.
The Superfast plan, with an average download speed of 59Mbps and an upload speed of 16Mbps, may be suitable for smaller households with 2 to 5 devices. However, it might not be sufficient for busy households with more devices.
| Plan | Average Download Speed | Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Superfast 35 | 36Mbps | 9Mbps |
| Superfast | 59Mbps | 16Mbps |
| Ultrafast | 145Mbps | 27Mbps |
| Ultrafast Plus | 500Mbps | 60Mbps |
| Gigafast | 910Mbps | 100Mbps |
In contrast, Sky Ultrafast broadband is a great option for users who require faster speeds than what Sky Broadband Superfast, the standard fiber product, offers.
Sky ultrafast broadband router
Sky ultrafast broadband deal includes the Sky Broadband Hub, which is designed for fibre broadband and can handle speeds of 100Mbps and more.
Sky Broadband Hub or Sky Q Hub 2 (SR203) features 4 Gigabit ports, 8 antennas and a built-in fibre modem that can handle WiFi speeds up to 2 Gbps.
Sky Broadband Hub is easy to set up and the Sky app allows customers to manage the hub and connected devices.
Sky also offers Boosters (SE210) to eliminate WiFi black spots and allow all devices to reach faster speeds in different rooms.
Sky Broadband Boost
This is an add-on that costs £5 per month and guarantees faster WiFi speeds in every room of your home. Sky will provide Boosters (SE210) to eliminate WiFi black spots and allow all devices to reach faster speeds in different rooms.
In addition to faster WiFi speeds, Sky Broadband Boost ensures a reliable connection. The connection is checked daily to maintain its quality. If there are any issues, Sky will arrange for an engineer to visit your home at any time.
Customer Service
In the 2022 Ofcom customer satisfaction report, Sky Broadband performed well, with 84% of its customers reporting satisfaction with the service. In terms of speed, 82% of the customers were happy with the performance of their internet speeds. It was reported that 54% of the customers were satisfied with the complaint handling process.
Out of every 10,000 Sky Broadband customers, Ofcom received 21 complaints. Meanwhile, the average call waiting time for Sky customer service was 2.17 minutes. This duration is in line with the industry average.
FAQ
Is Sky ultrafast broadband full fibre?
Sky Broadband Ultrafast (145 Mbps) is not technically a full fibre service, as it uses next-generation G.fast technology. This technology boosts speeds to optimal levels for FTTC fibre networks.
However, Sky Ultrafast Plus is a FTTP full fibre broadband connection with a minimum guaranteed speed of 400Mbps.
Does Sky ultrafast broadband come with landline?
Sky Broadband Ultrafast comes with landline and PAYG calls. You can upgrade it to anytime calls or add international calls.
However, the full fibre Ultrafast Plus and Gigafast do not come with a landline and provide VoIP-based home phone service.
Customer Reviews
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My upload speed is about 50 Mbps (advertised as 60 Mbps) and I’m using Ultrafast Plus. Download speeds are reliable and excellent. Overall, I’m happy with the Sky, it’s better than the BT Ultrafast FTTP (150 Mbs) I used a year ago.
I have three months left on my current contract and I will most likely renew it again as there are no major issues.
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Sky’s ultrafast average speeds were nowhere near what they advertise (145Mbps download, 27Mbps upload). My current speeds are 104Mbps down / 12Mbps up and the SR203 hub router provides WiFi speeds between 45Mbps – 95Mbps.
However, I didn’t have any connection issues after upgrading from superfast to ultrafast. I’m happy with the increase in download speeds, but upload speeds aren’t, that’s the only problem for me.
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