Sky TV's Wi-Fi 7 broadband launch in the UK: Will it make you switch?

Sky Launches Gigafast+ Broadband Plan with Record-Breaking Speeds

Sky TV has introduced a groundbreaking broadband plan called Gigafast+, offering download speeds of up to 5Gbps. This is an impressive 22 times faster than the UK average broadband speed of 223Mbps, as measured by Ofcom last year. Compared to the most affordable broadband deal available from Sky, the flagship Gigafast+ plan is an astonishing 81 times faster.

The new full-fibre broadband cables that enable these next-generation speeds are not only fast but also considered the "most reliable broadband technology" in the UK. For the first time, Sky is accepting orders for its top-tier Gigafast+ full-fibre broadband plans. To check if your postcode is eligible for the fastest broadband speeds from Sky TV, you can visit their website.

Features of the Gigafast+ Plan

The tagline for the new blink-and-you'll-miss-it download speed is: "Breeze through work, blitz your gaming sessions, and dive into epic HD entertainment Full Fibre Gigafast+ keeps your home moving."

The Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ starts from £70 a month, while the top-of-the-line Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ costs £80 a month. Both of these bundles include Sky's WiFi Max optional add-on at no extra cost, worth £4 a month. This ensures a minimum download speed in every room of your house, as well as advanced security and parental tools.

The Gigafast+ Hub

To harness these new speeds, Sky has unveiled a brand-new Wi-Fi router, called the Gigafast+ hub. It is packed with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, which can deliver wireless speeds twice as fast as Wi-Fi 6. Whether you're working from home, streaming TV shows or films in crisp 4K Ultra HD, or playing games online, Sky Broadband subscribers will benefit from next-generation wireless speeds and lower latency, even in the busiest households.

The Gigafast+ hub was developed by engineers at Sky and parent company Comcast, marking the first Wi-Fi device developed across the $134bn multinational firm. The new router is a tri-band device, equipped with three separate radio bands to transmit data: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz with Wi-Fi 7. The latter should improve Wi-Fi performance in densely-packed areas, like an apartment building or estate with dozens of neighbours all running their own Wi-Fi routers and internet-connected gadgets in close proximity.

On the back of the Gigafast+ hub, there are two 10Gbps ethernet ports to support a direct connection for faster speeds for heavy streamers and hefty file downloaders.

Partnership with CityFibre

Sky will send you a Gigafast+ hub when you sign-up for one of its new lightning-fast broadband plans, dubbed Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ and Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+. Both of these are powered by a long-term partnership between Sky and CityFibre, which was first announced last year. As such, you'll only be able to access the Sky Gigafast+ packages if your home is connected to the CityFibre full-fibre broadband network.

It's the CityFibre network that's currently available in just 4.5 million premises, although it has plans to dramatically expand to 8 million homes and businesses in the coming years. Everyone else on Sky Broadband will be connected via BT-owned Openreach, which is the single largest broadband infrastructure network across the UK — connecting 99% of homes and businesses. However, Openreach is racing to upgrade its infrastructure to newer, fibre-optic cables.

Industry Responses

Sky Chief Consumer Officer, Sophia Ahmad, said: "We’re proud to be setting a new standard in UK broadband. With speeds up to 5 Gbps, 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."

Some smaller full-fibre broadband suppliers can offer similar download speeds — or faster — in some areas of the UK. Known as "alt-nets," these increasingly popular suppliers offer a hyperlocalised full-fibre service. In contrast, Sky is classified as a major broadband supplier, meaning it operates nationwide and relies on UK-wide infrastructure from either BT-owned Openreach or Virgin Media O2.

Other Providers Also Launching Wi-Fi 7 Routers

The announcement from Sky comes one month after Vodafone launched its next-generation Wi-Fi 7 wireless router, rumoured since October last year. Starting from £39 a month, the Vodafone Ultra Hub 7 is built from 95% recycled plastic and equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 7 wireless technology for faster downloads and a more stable connection. At its peak, this router can deliver speeds of 2.2Gbps.

Vodafone subscribers will never be left without an internet connection, thanks to the built-in 4G dongle at the back of the new Vodafone Ultra Hub 7. This mobile network kicks in whenever there's a problem with the broadband, so you'll stay online when it matters most.

EE, another major provider, was the first to launch a Wi-Fi 7 router last summer. Dubbed EE Smart Hub with Wi-Fi 7, the next-generation router promised connections up to twice as fast as Wi-Fi 6, so you can experience faster speeds and a more robust connection, especially when multiple devices are connected simultaneously.

Amazon-owned brand eero is also entering the Wi-Fi 7 market. These aren't the first Wi-Fi 7 routers developed by the team at Eero, which Amazon acquired for an eye-watering $97 million back in 2019. The more affordable Eero 7 (£169.99) and Eero Pro 7 (£299.99) are designed to make this technology more accessible and ensure more homeowners are able to take advantage of its perks.