The Sky deal offers a free connection with a 2 Mbps downstream speed regardless of which TV package you subscribe to. In addition to this, it will be offering faster services up to 16 Mbps for those who have bigger requirements from just £10 per month. Each customer will receive a free wireless router and a year's use of McAfee Internet Security Suite. Sky is offering professional home installation services (£50 unless you subscribe to the Max up to 16 Mbps package), similar to its satellite installation service to help consumers get connected. Finally, they are also providing Sky Talk which includes anytime UK landline calls for £5 per month (usual catches apply regarding very long calls and non-geographic numbers.)



Visit http://www.adslguide.org.uk/newsarchive.asp?item=2732 for full details.

Ummm its only available on this deal to those on the 25% of uk exchanges that will be LLU unbundled by Sky at the start and that not till September from the sound of it.  That's a lot less than TalkTalk have their offer on.

If you are a country bumpkin like me Sky are going to charge an unspecified surcharge to offer their broadband.  I would imagine at least a tenner a month more.  So not so good.  At £15 per month for basic satellite pay channels like Eurosport and National Geographic and free broadband it would have been good.  Even then I would have been nervous the broadband might be crap and go at the speed of a snail like TalkTalk's does.  Again uselesss Ofcom does nothing about companies misselling as broadband services that are so contended they run at walking pace.

Also it appears that it will be a while yet before Sky do anything at all. See the email they sent me today after I registered interest saying they would get back to me with more details in August.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sky Broadband [mailto:SkyBroadband@bskyb.com]
Sent: 18 July 2006 15:06
Subject: Thanks for registering for Sky Broadband


Thanks for registering for Sky broadband. We will be in touch with you in early August on this email address to keep you informed about when we will be able to get you Sky Broadband.

Sky Broadband Team

P.S. Unfortunately this email has been sent from an unattended mail box so we won't be able to reply to this email. If you want to get in touch simply give us a call.

And here is what they will be charging us straw chewing country folk at Sky.  Only an 8MB service via BT Wholesale at £17 per month on top of your Sky Telly - significantly more than the £12.99per month I am paying my current 8MB broadband supplier.

So like TalkTalk the free is only available in large towns and I bet that like TalkTalk the service will be crap!

-----Original Message-----
From: Broadband Customer Service [mailto:BroadbandCustomerService@BSkyB.com]
Sent: 18 July 2006 21:05
Subject: RE: No Information on Costs on Non Unbundled BT Exchange

I’m sorry that you appear to have encountered problems in registering your interest in Sky Broadband.  I’ve taken the opportunity to do this for you and you should receive confirmation of this via your email account above – this response should also confirm what is available in your postcode area.  It may be as you suggest and you live in an area where you can get Sky Broadband Connect. Sky Broadband Connect offers you a fast connection and is designed to be perfect for downloading music or short video clips, or for faster browsing. We expect demand to be high for Sky Broadband Connect, so we will keep in touch and let you know when it is ready for you to buy.

Sky Broadband Connect is only £17 per month, with speeds of up to 8Mb, a usage allowance of 40GB per month, and an activation fee of £40.

You'll also get all this:

FREE wireless Sky Broadband box worth over £50
This means that all the family could be online at the same time, from anywhere in the house.

FREE McAfee Security
If you are a PC user you will get a FREE 12 month subscription to McAfee Internet Security Suite, worth £49.98, to help protect your computer against viruses, spam, and other online threats. If you are a Mac user, you will get a FREE 12 month subscription to McAfee Virex security software, worth £29.99.

Professional installation service
Sky Broadband Connect is really easy to install yourself. However, we’re also offering a professional installation service to hook up your wireless Sky Broadband Box in case you aren't confident of doing it yourself. There is a charge for the optional professional installation service of £50.

Sky.com email address
You'll also get up to five email addresses – name@sky.com

Let us know if we can help further.

Regards

Karen