[Sky Broadband Team]

We have been reading your comments and listening to customer feedback about what you’re looking for from your broadband provider and we’ve some exciting developments to share with you.

Truly unlimited broadband

One of the things you’ve told us is that you want “unlimited” broadband to be exactly that - truly unlimited. You’ve questioned why broadband products offering unlimited usage, such as Sky Broadband Max, adopt a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). We’ve taken your comments on board and this month we’ve removed the FUP from our Sky Broadband Max terms and conditions.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you’re a Sky Broadband Max customer it means you’re free to download as much as you want, whenever you want. We think this makes us the first major broadband provider to offer a truly unlimited package.

No speed caps on our network

Offering truly unlimited broadband is not the only promise we’re making to our customers. We know that another thing you really care about is getting consistent, reliable download speeds. One of the biggest gripes with some broadband providers is the capping of speeds during peak times, otherwise known as traffic shaping.

At Sky Broadband, we have a high-capacity network that is designed to carry huge amounts of traffic without congestion. So our promise to customers taking our Base, Mid or Max products is that we won’t slow down connection speeds at peak times. So whether you want to download a movie at 7am or a music track at 7pm, you’ll still be able to enjoy the same consistent speed. As Sky Connect customers are not on the Sky network we are unable to extend this promise to them.

Great value

Finally, we want to thank all of the customers who voted Sky the best overall provider in the BroadbandChoices.co.uk 2008 survey - there is no better accolade than our customers voting us into top spot in every category, including ‘good value for money’. We’re grateful for this support and it makes us want to work even harder to give you the quality, value and transparency you’re looking for.

So to sum it up, if you’re a Sky Broadband Max customer you can download as much as you want, whenever you want, at great speeds around the clock and all at a great value price.

So what are you waiting for… get downloading.
The Sky Broadband Team

[i love sky]

Originally Posted by Sky Broadband Team

We have been reading your comments and listening to customer feedback about what you’re looking for from your broadband provider and we’ve some exciting developments to share with you.

Truly unlimited broadband

One of the things you’ve told us is that you want “unlimited” broadband to be exactly that - truly unlimited. You’ve questioned why broadband products offering unlimited usage, such as Sky Broadband Max, adopt a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). We’ve taken your comments on board and this month we’ve removed the FUP from our Sky Broadband Max terms and conditions.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you’re a Sky Broadband Max customer it means you’re free to download as much as you want, whenever you want. We think this makes us the first major broadband provider to offer a truly unlimited package.

No speed caps on our network

Offering truly unlimited broadband is not the only promise we’re making to our customers. We know that another thing you really care about is getting consistent, reliable download speeds. One of the biggest gripes with some broadband providers is the capping of speeds during peak times, otherwise known as traffic shaping.

At Sky Broadband, we have a high-capacity network that is designed to carry huge amounts of traffic without congestion. So our promise to customers taking our Base, Mid or Max products is that we won’t slow down connection speeds at peak times. So whether you want to download a movie at 7am or a music track at 7pm, you’ll still be able to enjoy the same consistent speed. As Sky Connect customers are not on the Sky network we are unable to extend this promise to them.

Great value

Finally, we want to thank all of the customers who voted Sky the best overall provider in the BroadbandChoices.co.uk 2008 survey - there is no better accolade than our customers voting us into top spot in every category, including ‘good value for money’. We’re grateful for this support and it makes us want to work even harder to give you the quality, value and transparency you’re looking for.

So to sum it up, if you’re a Sky Broadband Max customer you can download as much as you want, whenever you want, at great speeds around the clock and all at a great value price.

So what are you waiting for… get downloading.
The Sky Broadband Team

Its Good to see that Sky do watch forums like DS and take note on what people want and need.

WELL DONE SKY.

[DanMan01]

Seriously? I hope this isn't some loser with a new user name just making up some BS.

Otherwise, if this is for real - i'm ditching AOL (cough*10GB*cough*usage limit*cough). I already have a Sky TV subscription.

I was considering O2's 8Mbps service because it had ADSL2+ router thrown in with it. But now, I've realised that true-unlimited usage fares better.

[DanMan01]

I also forgot to mention that Virgin suck. Like really badly. They have some serious usage limit issues and capping.

The 20Mbps fibre-optic one only lets you use the full bandwidth for SEVEN MINUTES before being throttled down and capped.

[Rian1988]

Wow, and yes Dan this is legit, sky are known for posting on these boards. Now if only you supply my area I'm ready to sign.

[OwlsRfab]

Good news from SKY if you are not on Sky Connect!
As a pensioner I would like SKY LLU service (it's cheaper) when will I be able to get it?

[Mark-Anstee]

FUP removed hmmm just some kind of publicity stunt to get more customers and then screw you .

[warrior51]

A token gesture of increasing the small usage limit on the base would be welcome too. Did BT not do such a thing recently?

[Pencil]

Hurray! Thanks Sky Broadband Team.

Take the rest of the week off.

[TheAmazingDanny]

Props to Sky for this, although I never really hit the limited that was in the FUP anyway (as I'm sure not many do, heh) - it's nice to know it's not there.

More companies need to follow Sky's example in this regard.

[Captain W]

Wahey, at last it is confirmed by Sky - pity you didn't reply directly to my thread as that would have been class but I'm glad it's been clarified and just as we expected.

Well done Sky

[Captain W]

Originally Posted by DanMan01

Seriously? I hope this isn't some loser with a new user name just making up some BS.

Otherwise, if this is for real - i'm ditching AOL (cough*10GB*cough*usage limit*cough). I already have a Sky TV subscription.

I was considering O2's 8Mbps service because it had ADSL2+ router thrown in with it. But now, I've realised that true-unlimited usage fares better.

Originally Posted by Rian1988

Wow, and yes Dan this is legit, sky are known for posting on these boards. Now if only you supply my area I'm ready to sign.

Yes, they are legit - if you look at your own post your classed as a forum member, where as Sky are down as Sky (which must have been set up with their connections on DS).

[nibb]

Well I'm convinced.

Sky can expect my MAC code tomorrow morning!

[Bowlando]

I think I'd consider moving from Zen for this, if there truly won't be any traffic shaping... but it's the 12-month contract which puts me off. If there are problems, I'd like the option to walk away with just 30 days notice.

[Analoguesat]

Originally Posted by Sky Broadband Team

So what are you waiting for… get downloading.
The Sky Broadband Team

Im waiting for you to pull your fingers out and wire up the Scottish Borders exchanges. NONE of them have been LLU'd by ANYBODY yet so theres plenty of opportunity to get new business.

[soulboy77]

It's a smart marketing move by Sky enabled by the capability of their network. I'm hoping other providers take note and follow suit so we get rid of this fair usage cap and peak time throttling nonsense.

[4me2]

Originally Posted by nibb

Well I'm convinced.

Sky can expect my MAC code tomorrow morning!

If you can get through.

[carl.waring]

Originally Posted by DanMan01

They have some serious usage limit issues and capping.

While there is usage limit, there is absolutely NO CAP. Your speed is simply slowed down for a while. You can still do everything as before (including gaming); just a little slower.

I am quite happy for Sky to have a truly unlimited service. I hope they get all the numpties who want to max out their connections 24/7/365 and leave both VM and many other ISPs to those who are then able to use the 'net without other people slowing them down

[Captain W]

Originally Posted by carl.waring

While there is usage limit, there is absolutely NO CAP. Your speed is simply slowed down for a while. You can still do everything as before (including gaming); just a little slower.

I am quite happy for Sky to have a truly unlimited service. I hope they get all the numpties who want to max out their connections 24/7/365 and leave both VM and many other ISPs to those who are then able to use the 'net without other people slowing them down

WOW - someone seems upset at the aqnnouncement

I love your words - Virgin just slow down the connection, not throttle it - come one, tell the truth they throttle it and you potentially can be STM'd more than once a day can't you? Not even just at peak times Carl - sure looks like you've got some sour grapes my friend.

If you look at the Easynet Network - it's bigger than Virgins' - apparently it's the 2nd biggest network in the UK and Sky have said publicly on this very forum that their network can cope with someone maxing out their connection at any time of day without congestion as it's 21CN - the more the merrier for us as customer's to Sky Broadband as more customer's brings more revenue (and profit for Sky) brings more investment and in return more services - I know this isn't the model Virgin appear to be able to adopt at present but your statements aren't valid I'm afraid.

In fact, here is Virgin's Traffic Management policy and here's an example of just one level of restriction:
Evening Peak Time
You get throttled for 5 hrs and they reduce your speeds by the % shown below on these download speeds/products
Downstream speed 2Mb 4Mb 10Mb 20Mb
PercentageThrottled 50% 75% 75% 75%

I certainly don't call this just a bit of a slow down

[Captain W]

Originally Posted by soulboy77

It's a smart marketing move by Sky enabled by the capability of their network. I'm hoping other providers take note and follow suit so we get rid of this fair usage cap and peak time throttling nonsense.

Trouble being a lot of the smaller ISP's cannot adopt such a policy as quite a few rent capacity/space and do not own their own network and allowing customer's to take advantage may be suicide.

I think some will definitely rethink their business model and we even see one or two go under

[carl.waring]

Originally Posted by Captain W

WOW - someone seems upset at the aqnnouncement

Couldn't give a damn, actually.

Originally Posted by Captain W

I love your words - Virgin just slow down the connection, not throttle it...

The former is an accurate and adequate description; the latter is a little well, take your pick: sensationalist; hyperbole; pejorative.

[mitchec1]

Originally Posted by carl.waring

Couldn't give a damn, actually.


The former is an accurate and adequate description; the latter is a little well, take your pick: sensationalist; hyperbole; pejorative.

Why post if you couldn't give a damn?

Obviously others could give a damn. I've just downloaded over 5GB of films and software (all legal) with no speed reduction in the last 12hrs.

While over with VM stm has just kicked in at 1gb pretty **** poor if you ask me

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=902057

[Captain W]

Originally Posted by carl.waring

Couldn't give a damn, actually.

That's not what it looks like from here

The former is an accurate and adequate description; the latter is a little well, take your pick: sensationalist; hyperbole; pejorative.

Your point being?

Originally Posted by mitchec1

Why post if you couldn't give a damn?

Obviously others could give a damn. I've just downloaded over 5GB of films and software (all legal) with no speed reduction in the last 12hrs.

While over with VM stm has just kicked in at 1gb pretty **** poor if you ask me

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=902057

Pure sour grapes as far as I can see from Carl - especially seeing as he has "The Mother of all Broadband" where Mummy spanks them for having to audacity to use the service for what it was designed for and reduces their speeds, or by looking at how bad they pull back the throttle, it's like Mummy grounds them for 5 hours; and they still have to pay for the privilege

Enjoy watching your movies mitchec1, whilst I'm sure you start downloading more

[mattyl149]

Excuse the rather long post

I have had AOL for a long while and I am very tempted by this offer, but I just want to ask a few questions?

1) I am currently paying £9.99 a month after getting the price knocked down when they had the old pricing structure. I presume I am on an original contract so am I subjected to download limits or an FUP as I have done a lot of downloads and not seen too much of a problem?

2) I already have a router - Thomson Speedtouch 580 - can I still use that if I switch?

3) Does the unlimited apply only to Broadband Max?

4) AOL told me that the fastest speed I could get was 2Mb, so if I switched to Sky, would they recommend that I went on a lower package?

5) I take it all my AOL email addresses would remain intact still if I switched?

6) How long would it take from getting my Mac address from AOL, giving it to Sky for it all to be changed over? Would I have any downtime?

I'm sure that I know most of the answers to these questions, but it is 11:00pm at night and I have had a hard day at work

I have been a full package customer with Sky for five years now and would be tempted to let them look after my broadband too. My AOL connection has been off the past few days and I couldn't get the internet working. This is not the first time it has happened, but it is not a very common problem that occurs. I'm sure that when they changed my pricing plan it extended my commitment to them, but I think that period of time has now expired. The price would still be the same every month with the max package from Sky compared to what I pay now. AOL used to have a lot of exclusive features for members but these seem to have all but gone now it is part of Carphone Warehouse. I was tempted by the offer of a free lapotop or games console a while back from AOL, until I realised I would have to sign a new contract and pay more for a speed I couldn't get. So if I do decide to switch, I'd love to see what they tempt me with to stay

[TheAmazingDanny]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

Excuse the rather long post

I have had AOL for a long while and I am very tempted by this offer, but I just want to ask a few questions?

1) I am currently paying £9.99 a month after getting the price knocked down when they had the old pricing structure. I presume I am on an original contract so am I subjected to download limits or an FUP as I have done a lot of downloads and not seen too much of a problem?

...Yes?

2) I already have a router - Thomson Speedtouch 580 - can I still use that if I switch?

No, you'll have to use Sky's router as they awkwardly embed the connection information into the firmware router-by-router so there's no way of getting the information to configure your old router to use Sky - this information could be extracted from old Sky routers but not new ones AFAIK.

3) Does the unlimited apply only to Broadband Max?

The unlimited bandwidth applies to only Max.
The no speed throttling applies to all packages.

4) AOL told me that the fastest speed I could get was 2Mb, so if I switched to Sky, would they recommend that I went on a lower package?

Depends on your line quality and how close to your exchange you are, your line might be too far away / so bad as 2mb might be your fastest possible speed, however Sky use ADSL2 rather than normal ADSL if they are at your exchange which might be quicker. Connect might only be available in your area in which case it's not worth it and non of this would apply.

5) I take it all my AOL email addresses would remain intact still if I switched?

That would be an AOL thing, you'd have to enquire with them I think as I don't know, possibly.

6) How long would it take from getting my Mac address from AOL, giving it to Sky for it all to be changed over? Would I have any downtime?

Hopefully it'd be a few hours on the day of the switch, but if something goes wrong, expect a few days to a week.