Broadband News

Will you switch to Sky broadband in 2012?

Wednesday 1 February, 2012

By Kelvin Goodson

Sky gained over 600,000 broadband customers in 2011.

Sky finished 2011 with 645,000 more broadband customers than it started the year with.

The provider’s broadband customer base grew by over 20% last year, according to its latest financial results, taking it to a total of over 3.65 million.

Sky also saw the number of customers who bundle their broadband with TV and telephone together increase by 26% over the course of 2011 to a total of over three million.

Jeremy Darroch, chief executive at Sky, said: “While these are tough times for many consumers, our customers are staying loyal and more households continue to join us.”

He added that “from broadband to high-definition, people are choosing Sky for a wider range of products than ever, underlining the transformation of our business over the last few years,” referring to the providers beginnings as a satellite TV broadcaster.

Over the final three months of 2011, Sky moved 277,000 more customers to its unbundled network. This means that 59% of its broadband customers now access the internet through Sky’s equipment rather than BT’s, “improving the economics” of the company’s broadband service.

Sky plans to gain more broadband customers in future by extending its network to reach 88% of the UK by the end of 2013, up from 82% at present, meaning it will be able to offer its service to a further 1.4 million homes.

In April, the provider is launching a free Wi-Fi service for those who are signed up to the Sky Unlimited Broadband package. This will provide wireless internet access at more than 10,000 locations across the country.

Sky has also announced it will provide a fibre broadband service for the first time from April for those in need of higher speeds. Offering speeds of up to 40Mb, the service will initially be available to just under 30% of the UK.