Sky Ireland Fibre Broadband

philiporeilly

Disappointed to receive written reply from Sky Ireland today saying they have no concrete plans to upgrade customers to Fibre broadband unlike their competitors using the same lines.

Previously had talked to a rep on the phone who indicated that it would be at least 4 months before they begin doing something but the tone of the email I got made it sound even longer.

Avoid Sky Broadband unless you want to be stuck using a product as old a Pierce Brosnan in Tech terms!

Curse of being an early adopter to Sky while my neighbours enjoy increased speeds already :-(

Vico1612

Saw your post on the sky forum .
I got a mail from their CS saying 4 months and 'soon' a link to register interest.
But to be honest, I don't trust them anymore as I've spoken to 3 agents and got 3 different stories..
Frustrating

philiporeilly

Yeah when I phoned up I eventually was told that it would be at least 4 months also before they will start rolling this out but I got the email afterwards saying they have no concrete plans.

All of their reps are avoiding answering that post on their forums so cause to worry.

Definitely avoid Sky Broadband until they clarify their plans for fibre broadband.

philiporeilly

Another response from Sky :-(



Thank you for your reply.
I am very sorry to hear that you feel disappointed by Sky regarding this matter. As we are a new player to the broadband and talk market in Ireland we are still finding our feet in certain aspects of the business, but as I mentioned in my previous email Sky are constantly evolving and when we can supply our valued customers, such as yourself with a superior product we will certainly endeavour to do so. We strongly believe that even though our Sky Broadband product may not currently be as fast as other competitors, we can more than make up for this when it comes to value and the availability of our service throughout Ireland from the major cities to the small towns. With regards to a next generation fibre service there are talks on going all the time between our wholesale suppliers and ourselves and although as I said previously there is nothing set in stone we may have access to this type of service as early as the end of the summer if everything falls into place over the coming weeks and months.

chapterthree

I was one of the first to move to sky. I was told that my line was processed and I had an activation date. That date came and went and I was told that everyone that had applied on the date that I did had to start the whole process again. When I finally got connected and tested the speeds I was extremely please until I noticed that the line was dropping in and out. After a whole lengthy period trying to sort it out I was told that they have identified the problem but it would take 6-8 weeks to fix it. Those dates are in line with the dates that eircom plan to go live with fibre in my area. So I assumed that the fibre was going to be the fix that they were talking about. Maybe I'm wrong.

philiporeilly

Nice to know that Sky are reading this and have asked for my contact details here through one of the admins. It's a pity they continue to ignore their own customers regarding this issue on the Sky website forums.

I understand that the standard practice when dealing with customer service issues like this, where a business cannot compete with their competitors or they are at fault, is to drive the discussion offline. I would be very happy if Sky would respond to the many questions posted on their own forums by customers regarding this issue to provide clarification rather than reading posts on other forums.

I will continue to criticise them here and through other means as long as they continue to provide poor customer service and inferior broadband services.

jeffk

My eircom contract is up at the end of next month, so by the end of this month I HAVE to know when or if sky is going to go fiber

Praetorian

I did mention several times on this forum that people should hold off going with Sky since the introduction of FTTC was imminent. I'm going to say this like a 10 year old on the playground. Told ye all so!

The Ayatolla

I'm paying around 13euro a month for 10meg broadband, unlim local + national calls and free line rental for a year with Sky.

Can put up with the speeds for now!

dubmick

This was the reason I didn't move to sky and €10 deal would have done me fine. They told me at them time that they had no plans to move to fibre in the next year or two.

The Ayatolla

For approx another 30euro + is it really worth the extra speed?

If you're a serial downloader maybe, but i've no problem waiting 30mins for a movie to download

Praetorian

Ayatolla, for lots of people the extra cost won't be worth it, but for lots it is. Time is more valuable for them.

I get 1.2 megs per second downloading and 110 kb per second uploading. Decent enough for adsl. (12m/bit down 1 m/bit up),

Last night I wanted to buy a new game. It was 16 gigs & was taking approx. 5 hours to download. On the vdsl package I hope to get, it should be under an hour wait. I would have liked to play it last night, not have to leave my pc on overnight.

I was uploading a video to youtube of my child playing for his grandparents over in Germany. It was about 500 megs, and it took nearly an hour & a half. On the vdsl package I hope to get, it should take about 6 minutes.

High quality video chat is possible. Cloud applications are possible.

Streaming one high def video is enough to keep the connection busy. Any more browsing by anyone in the house slows down the stream. That's another good reason.

You can do so much more with proper bandwidth.

The Ayatolla

Don't get me wrong, it has its advantages and if you can warrant the extra ~30 quid then by all means go for it.

I'll hold off until my deal with Sky & contract expires before making any decisions. I have another 9 months so hopefully Sky have some movement on Fibre by then.

colm_mcm

jeffk wrote: »

My eircom contract is up at the end of next month, so by the end of this month I HAVE to know when or if sky is going to go fiber

Its not like you can't just stay with them another month or two after the contract expires, you don't automatically get a new contract when the old one runs out.

jeffk

colm_mcm wrote: »

Its not like you can't just stay with them another month or two after the contract expires, you don't automatically get a new contract when the old one runs out.

I meant like by months end I have to know if im going with sky or eircom for another year, if eircom then i guess i do nothing and it starts again at the end of July.

dubmick

The Ayatolla wrote: »

For approx another 30euro + is it really worth the extra speed?

If you're a serial downloader maybe, but i've no problem waiting 30mins for a movie to download

I will be going from 3mb to near 70mb so yes.

Vico1612

So according to one of their forum mods > http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Broadband-Talk/Sky-and-Eircom-eFibre/td-p/983554/page/5

Hi Guys,

I have double checked this and unfortunately we don’t have any further information if Fibre is coming to the ROI. I do understand how frustrating this is and again I do apologise.

Thanks
Emma-O

bk

jeffk wrote: »

I meant like by months end I have to know if im going with sky or eircom for another year, if eircom then i guess i do nothing and it starts again at the end of July.

No, it doesn't work that way.

If you decide to stay with your initial provider, then you don't need to sign a new contract with them and you can cancel at any time.

For instance, when you initial 12 month contract is up, you can continue to use it for another 3 months and then cancel.

Now they may call and try to foll you into singing up for another 12 month contract, but it is completely unnecessary and you should never agree to do this unless they make it worth your will (deep discount, etc.).

Better to have the flexibility to cancel and move at any time.

jeffk

bk wrote: »

No, it doesn't work that way.

If you decide to stay with your initial provider, then you don't need to sign a new contract with them and you can cancel at any time.

For instance, when you initial 12 month contract is up, you can continue to use it for another 3 months and then cancel.

Now they may call and try to foll you into singing up for another 12 month contract, but it is completely unnecessary and you should never agree to do this unless they make it worth your will (deep discount, etc.).

Better to have the flexibility to cancel and move at any time.

Good to know thanks.

So once my Eircom contract is up, do nothing and pay them month to month and as you said only re enter a contract if there is a decent discount.

What happens when efibre comes to my area? I’m guessing ill have to go into a contract for that, or is it just an improvement on the service im getting?

bk

jeffk wrote: »

So once my Eircom contract is up, do nothing and pay them month to month and as you said only re enter a contract if there is a decent discount.

Yes, do nothing.

They may call you trying to convince you to sign up for another 12 months. But just refuse it.

It works the same way for mobile phone contracts, sky TV service, electricity and gas services, etc.

jeffk wrote: »

What happens when efibre comes to my area? I’m guessing ill have to go into a contract for that, or is it just an improvement on the service im getting?

In that case you do need to sign up for a 12 month contract as it is a new service.

That is pretty fair and understandable, it costs them money to give you a free modem and to send out an engineer to install it. So they need to guarantee to stay with them long enough to recoup these costs.

jeffk

bk wrote: »

Yes, do nothing.

They may call you trying to convince you to sign up for another 12 months. But just refuse it.

It works the same way for mobile phone contracts, sky TV service, electricity and gas services, etc.



In that case you do need to sign up for a 12 month contract as it is a new service.

That is pretty fair and understandable, it costs them money to give you a free modem and to send out an engineer to install it. So they need to guarantee to stay with them long enough to recoup these costs.

Brilliant, thanks for all the info.

I don’t mind signing up to sky or eircom for efibre and I do agree with a modem etc it is only right that you would have to sign up for a year contract!

SolvableKnave

Just to let you know, the eFibre contract is actually an 18 month contract

markad1

Just on sky forum

Hi All,

With regards to the launch of a Sky fibre service, we will be offering this service in Ireland this year as soon as we possibly can.
Trialling of our fibre service has already started so as to ensure we have the best quality of service ready for its full launch. There will a dedicated space on our website to register interest in our new service very soon.
It will be the same type of product that will be available from Eircom and Vodafone, providing a next generation fibre powered service at the same great value we offer with our current Sky Broadband.

Thanks

Vico1612

markad1 wrote: »

Just on sky forum

Hi All,

With regards to the launch of a Sky fibre service, we will be offering this service in Ireland this year as soon as we possibly can.
Trialling of our fibre service has already started so as to ensure we have the best quality of service ready for its full launch. There will a dedicated space on our website to register interest in our new service very soon.
It will be the same type of product that will be available from Eircom and Vodafone, providing a next generation fibre powered service at the same great value we offer with our current Sky Broadband.

Thanks

http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Broadband-Talk/Sky-Fibre-in-Republic-of-Ireland-update/td-p/1156568

The Ayatolla

Wahooooo. Already impressed with Sky's service and quality. Am contracted until March 2014 so hopefully I can upgrade early.

Israeli Superiority

Excellent.

dave1982

Was onto SKY asked every other provider can off fibre except SKY.

reply was

"We do not have our equipment in the exchange. Jane"

Am I wrong or is it just eircom that have equipment in the exchange

losetheforce

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I'm paying around 13euro a month for 10meg broadband, unlim local + national calls and free line rental for a year with Sky.

I have to ask you how you manage to get that? When I look its about €47.5 a month for unlimited calls & broadband

how you getting it for €13? :eek:

Israeli Superiority

losetheforce wrote: »

I have to ask you how you manage to get that? When I look its about €47.5 a month for unlimited calls & broadband

how you getting it for €13? :eek:

My deal with Sky is: €10 for broadband and €7.50 for calls every month. I looked at Sky's website and the prices are €40. my guess is that it was a special deal they were giving people back when the company first joined the market (in December, I think). I signed up in January and my line switched over on the first week of February. Same speed I had with Eircom, but about €35 - €40 cheaper.

The Ayatolla

Same as the above poster, plus the added discount of 9euro from the household benefits scheme :P

Vico1612

Just wondering if anybody had any news on this [ through a source other than their Sky forum , which is useless ... ]
Thanks

The Ayatolla

Was speaking to a Sky Tier 2 broadband operator on the phone last week.

They said its currently being tested and should be rolled out before end of the year.

murphaph

Will Sky offer TV over VDSL?

degsie

murphaph wrote: »

Will Sky offer TV over VDSL?

They already offer Sky Go is you are a Sky TV subscriber

kaizersoze

I don't think Sky have enough backhaul capacity atm for regular broadband let alone fibre.

bealtine

and it's not "sky fibre" either it's just resold eircom vdsl

positron

Got similar standard reply from Sky last week when I queried about Fibre upgrade.

With regards to the launch of a Sky fibre service, we will be offering this service in Ireland this year as soon as we possibly can.

Trialling for our fibre service has already started so as to ensure we have the best quality of service ready for its full launch and we will have a website to register your interest in the new service available very soon.

It will be the same type of product that will be available from Eircom and Vodafone, providing a next generation fibre powered service at the same great value offering unlimited downloading we offer on our current Sky Broadband products.

We would advise that you log on to sky.ie regularly to keep an eye out for all the latest information but as an existing Sky Broadband & Talk customer We are sure you will be one of the first to be notified about how to proceed with upgrading to Sky Fibre in the near future.

I wish they would just hurry up and just get it done! It's been months since others went to market with this, and it's not like Sky didn't know this is all happening!!

Jimmyireland

positron wrote: »

Got similar standard reply from Sky last week when I queried about Fibre upgrade.



I wish they would just hurry up and just get it done! It's been months since others went to market with this, and it's not like Sky didn't know this is all happening!!

Same standard reply I got over 2 months ago

degsie

Sky got slammed for congestion issues when the increasing number of bb subscribers impacted on their inadequate backhaul infrastructure. I can imagine they are being super cautious with the introduction of VDSL.

dave1982

Why can't they what every other provider is selling ???

Stuck in a contract with them.So predictable years waiting for BB over 3mb finally its here but SKY won't give it:mad:

positron

Almost anyone / everyone who has been waiting for decent broadband and out of contract would be in the process of switching over now, and would be entering lengthy contracts with vodafone / eircome. Those who are already on contract with vodafone/eircom etc are getting free upgrades to fibre I think, and perhaps new contracts tying them down for another 12+ months. So by the time (if) sky come out with their fibre product, vast majority of the market would be in fresh contract with vodafone/eircom, and the majority of the rest would be those who are currently in contract with Sky with old broadband... I suppose this is also perhaps why Sky not exactly in a hurry to win fibre business..? Who knows!

BlazingSaddler

Sorry to drag up an old thread, Is there any update on Sky fibre?, I last spoke to them in October and they said it was almost certainly going to be pre xmas. I take it it's still not available?
Thanks

Vico1612

mattb74 wrote: »

Sorry to drag up an old thread, Is there any update on Sky fibre?, I last spoke to them in October and they said it was almost certainly going to be pre xmas. I take it it's still not available?
Thanks

Short answer : still no news ... :rolleyes:
http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Broadband-Talk/Sky-Fibre-Ireland/td-p/1597441

ongarite

Anyone on Sky having congestion issues?
My parents in Ratoath are getting terrible speeds evenings and weekends on Sky.
Line is capable of 20Mb but only getting 1-2Mb at peak times since early December.
Sky sent out a new router and I used wireshark to extract the username&pw for testing on old Netgear DSL modem but no change in speed.

In the mornings, the speed returns to maximum line speed available.

The Ayatolla

I heard it's sometime in Q2 of this year.

Nonoperational

They've been out and out lying for the past year about fibre. They are testing for ages now. My ass. Anyone on the test? I've yet to hear of anyone, yet they had loads on their ADSL test before.

adox

My 12 month trial was up with them at the end of last month and I jumped ship.

Couldn't offer fibre while others could and the price was going up so why would I stay?

Service over the 12 months was fine except for one month, where speeds dropped to a crawl in the evenings. I engaged on their support forum and communication was very good.

They eventually resolved the issue and gave me a free month for my troubles.

Been on fibre since yesterday and predictably could never imagine going back.

peking97

I'm in a similar position to yourself and am also considering jumping ship!

May I ask what service you opted for?

adox

peking97 wrote: »

I'm in a similar position to yourself and am also considering jumping ship!

May I ask what service you opted for?

Moved to Vodafone at home package.

degsie

The Ayatolla wrote: »

I heard it's sometime in Q2 of this year.

April 1st?

BlazingSaddler

I called them yesterday re this and was told that they really don't know, they're using Eircoms fibre and Eircom are having issues with it so Sky won't be proceeding before the issues are all ironed out. So none this wiser!