Credible sources have indicated that UK ISP Sky Broadband are currently gearing up to launch their first Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based “ultrafast broadband” packages (via Openreach’s platform) from next month, possibly as soon as Monday 1st June 2020, which follows an earlier delay due to COVID-19.
At present Sky’s existing ultrafast broadband package(s) only make use of Openreach’s hybrid fibre G.fast technology, but they were originally expected to introduce “full fibre” FTTP during early 2020 (here). Unfortunately that plan ended up being binned after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) began to spread and eventually caused Openreach to stop almost all new FTTP installs (here).
So far as we’re aware Openreach still hopes to start returning their operations to normal from June (or as close to that as social distancing will allow), although this remains a provisional date and is dependent upon how the COVID-19 situation unfolds as the lockdown softens.
Before COVID-19 hit, Sky Broadband told ISPreview.co.uk that they intended to launch FTTP “as soon as possible” and our sources now indicate that they’ve begun training support staff ahead of a launch to consumers occurring early next month. Obviously this also assumes that Openreach won’t make any last minute changes.
Sky’s FTTP packages will ship alongside their latest Sky Broadband Hub (SR203) router (there’s an SR204 too but that’s just the same kit for G.fast lines) and we understand that initially they may only launch it for their superfast and ultrafast 1 packages, while faster plans should follow later this year.
Sky’s Planned FTTP Packages
Superfast – 80Mbps (c.20Mbps upload)
Ultrafast 1 – 150Mbps (c.30Mbps upload)
Ultrafast 2 – 285Mbps (c.50Mbps upload) – TBA
Openreach have recently launched their new 550Mbps and 1Gbps tiers for consumers too (here), but so far we’ve had no clear indication (either officially or unofficially via sources) whether those will follow later in the year or not.
Sky has of course previously indicated that they’d like to work with alternative FTTP networks too (technically they already work with the now Cityfibre owned FibreNation project), but for now they’re focused on selling Openreach based products.
