SKY’s broadband service looks set to receive a bumper boost soon as the company announces a big upgrade to the network it uses.
Up until now Sky has relied BT’s Openreach network to deliver internet to some 5.7million customers across the UK.
But the firm has now signed a major deal with BT rival CityFibre to use its network too.
While existing arrangements with BT will continue, the move came as blow to the legacy telecoms giant, leading to a fall in the company’s shares.
Sky is unlikely to end its partnership with BT given that Openreach’s network availability is significantly larger.
Openreach is the biggest network in terms of reach, followed by Virgin Media.
CityFibre itself aims to cover up to 8million UK premises with its FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) network.
But Sky’s decision to opt for a second tie-up with CityFibre means the company can expand its broadband services to more households too.
“Sky’s new partnership with CityFibre will mean we can provide fast, reliable and great value broadband to more homes across the UK,” said Amber Pine, Sky’s Managing Director of Connectivity, said.
“This will mean we are able to reach even more people with full fibre, which is essential for the modern home.”
Sky’s fibre broadband would be available on CityFibre’s 3.8million premises next year, CityFibre said.
Longer term it would be offered to the 1.3million homes it is connecting in remote regions with government support.
“This partnership with Sky is a huge vote of confidence in our business and has cemented CityFibre’s position as the UK’s third digital infrastructure platform,” said Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre.
“With demand for digital connectivity continuing to grow, CityFibre’s network can provide the quality and reliability that people need and the infrastructure competition the UK deserves.”
BT said the deal was expected as the UK’s fibre broadband market “becomes ever more competitive”.
“We’re very confident that Openreach will continue to be the UK’s fibre partner of choice,” a BT spokesman said.
“But we’re building fibre faster, more efficiently and providing better customer experience than anyone.”
Top tips on how to stay connected
Here are some tips from Ofcom on how to improve your Wi-Fi connection and get more out of it:
- Use your landline or Wi-Fi calls:More people are making calls on their mobile network during the day, so you may find you get a more reliable connection using your landline or by turning on “wifi calling” in your settings.
- Move your router clear of other devices: Keep your router as far away as possible from other devices, such as cordless phones, baby monitors, TVs and monitors, as they can all affect your Wi-Fi if they’re too close to your router. Also, place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor, and keep it switched on.
- Lower the demands on your connection: The more devices attached to your wifi, the lower the speed you get. Devices like tablets and smartphones often work in the background, so try switching wifi reception off on these when you’re not using them.
- Try wired rather than wireless:For the best broadband speeds, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using Wi-FI.
- Plug your router directly into your main phone socket:Where possible, try not to use a telephone extension lead, as these can cause interference which could lower your speed.
- Test the speed on your broadband line: You can run a speed test using Ofcom’s official mobile and broadband checker. If possible, carry out tests over a few days and see if there are any changes.