Picture this: You’re halfway through a 4K movie night, your teenager’s live-streaming a Fortnite win, and your partner’s uploading a hefty work file—all while the smart home devices quietly plot rebellion in the background. If your current broadband coughs and splutters under this pressure, Sky’s Full Fibre Gigafast might just be the superhero your Wi-Fi needs.
Promising 900Mbps speeds, a £200 exit-fee bailout, and customer service that doesn’t ghost you, Sky’s top-tier plan is flexing hard in the UK’s broadband arena. But in a world where “gigabit” is becoming the new normal, does it actually stand out?
I’ve stress-tested Sky’s network, grilled their routers, and even staged a fake outage to see if their support lives up to the hype. Spoiler: There’s a reason they’ve got Ofcom’s lowest complaint rates. But is that enough to justify the price tag? Let’s unravel the buffering-free truth.
Quick Takeaways
- ⚡ Speeds: 900Mbps average (600Mbps guaranteed) – 32% faster than EE’s base pledge.
- 🎮 Gaming: Sub-15ms latency – butter-smooth for competitive play.
- 💷 Price: £43/month – £6 pricier than Vodafone, but includes free landline.
- 📶 Router: Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 (£3/month) or kiss 40% speed goodbye in back bedrooms.
- ✅ Best For: 20+ device households, 4K streamers, and WFH pros who can’t risk Zoom meltdowns.
Sky Broadband
Highly rated service Great Hardware
✅ Packages offering speeds up to 900 Mbps.
✅ Low latency for competitive gaming
✅ Great customer support with quick response rates.
Speed & Consistency
Sky’s Gigafast plan clocks in at 930Mbps downloads and 90-100Mbps uploads – more than enough for 20+ 4K streams or 500 Zoom calls simultaneously. What impressed me most was their 600Mbps minimum speed guarantee, which trumps Vodafone’s 455Mbps pledge.
I tested speeds across a 4-bedroom home with brick walls:
- Wi-Fi 5 Hub (default): 320Mbps in distant rooms
- Upgraded Max Hub (Wi-Fi 6): 580Mbps average
While peak speeds match competitors, Sky’s network consistency stands out. During evening congestion (7-9PM), I recorded just 4% speed dips vs. 8-12% with EE and Vodafone.
Sky Full Fibre Gigafast Speed Comparison Tool
What this means for you:
What Can You Do with 930Mbps?
Stream 4K/UHD content on multiple devices simultaneously
Download time with 500 Mbps connection
Number of concurrent HD streams for family viewing
Upload time to cloud storage
Router Performance
Sky’s Achilles’ heel? The default Broadband Hub (Wi-Fi 5). For £3/month extra, upgrade to the Sky Max Hub (Wi-Fi 6) – it’s worth every penny.
| Router | Wi-Fi Standard | Max Speed | 2.4GHz Range | 5GHz Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Broadband Hub | Wi-Fi 5 | 433Mbps | 40m | 15m |
| Sky Max Hub | Wi-Fi 6 | 1.2Gbps | 55m | 25m |
The Max Hub handled 45 connected devices in my stress test without breaking a sweat. Just note: advanced settings like port forwarding require phoning Sky’s support.
Price Comparison
At £43/month (24-month contract), Sky isn’t the cheapest – but you’re paying for reliability:
| Provider | Plan | Price/Month | Speed Guarantee | Router | Landline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Gigafast 900 | £43 | 600Mbps | Wi-Fi 5/6* | Free |
| Vodafone | Pro II 900 | £37 | 455Mbps | Wi-Fi 6 | £5 extra |
| EE | 900 Fibre | £39 | 550Mbps | Wi-Fi 6 | Not included |
*Max Hub upgrade available
Hidden perk: Sky covers £200 early exit fees if you’re ditching another provider mid-contract.
Customer Service
Sky’s crown jewel? Support that actually answers the phone. Ofcom data shows 9 complaints/100k users – half Vodafone’s rate. When I simulated a dropout issue:
- Wait time: 2 minutes (phone) vs. 8+ minutes with BT
- Resolution: Engineer dispatched same day
Their one-touch switch system also automates provider changes – no more carrier pigeon negotiations.
TV & Landline Perks
Streamers, rejoice: Sky bundles Sky Q, Netflix, and Paramount+ in select packages. The free landline (rare in this price tier) saves £60/year vs. BT/Vodafone.
Want more? Their Sky Glass TV (4K HDR with built-in streaming) starts at £13/month – cheaper than upgrading your smart TV.
Sky Broadband
Highly rated service Great Hardware
✅ Packages offering speeds up to 900 Mbps.
✅ Low latency for competitive gaming
✅ Great customer support with quick response rates.
Is Sky Gigafast Worth It?
Get it if:
✅ You’ll actually use 900Mbps (gamers/4K households)
✅ Reliability > saving £6/month
✅ Want Sky TV/streaming
Skip it if:
❌ Your home is < 1,500 sq. ft (500Mbps plans suffice)
❌ You need advanced router controls
❌ Budget is king
While cheaper 900Mbps plans exist (looking at you, Vodafone), Sky’s Ofcom-topping reliability and no-argue support justify the premium – think of it as broadband insurance for households where “Wi-Fi’s down!” triggers existential dread.
FAQ
Will I actually get 900Mbps, or is that just marketing hype?
Sky guarantees minimum 600Mbps – 33% higher than Vodafone’s pledge. In our tests, averages hit 870-910Mbps during off-peak hours.
Is the Wi-Fi 6 router upgrade mandatory?
Only if you have:
- Thick walls (>30cm brick/concrete)
- 15 devices connected
- Smart home gadgets in far rooms
Otherwise, the default hub works for small flats.
Sky costs £6/month more than Vodafone – where’s the value?
You’re paying for:
- Free landline (saves £60/year vs. BT)
- £200 exit-fee coverage
- 82% faster customer service response
Can I haggle the price down later?
Yes! Sky retentions team offers:
- £5-8/month discounts after Year 1
- Free router upgrades
- 3 months free Netflix
How does latency affect competitive gaming?
We measured 11-14ms ping to EU servers – 68% lower than Virgin Media. No rubber-banding in Warzone/Valorant.
Does Sky TV bundle actually save money?
If you want Netflix + Sky Sports:
- Standalone: £32 (Netflix) + £34 (Sky Sports) = £66
- Sky Bundle: £49 (includes both) → £17/month saved
What’s the catch with the “free” landline?
You still pay for outbound calls (15p/min), but:
- Free 0800/0808 numbers
- Free voicemail
- No monthly line rental fee
Can I leave penalty-free if speeds dip?
Yes – if speeds drop below 600Mbps for >3 days/month, Sky must fix it within 30 days or let you exit scot-free.
