Sky Broadband Connect Network Management

[Scubbie]

Sky Help: Sky Broadband Connect Network Management

If you’re a Sky Broadband Connect customer we want you to have the fairest service possible.

This Network Management Policy means as a Sky Broadband Connect customer online at peak times you may experience slower speeds when using the network because bandwidth is shared equally amongst all Sky Broadband Connect customers. Peak times are the busiest periods of the day when the highest number of Connect customers are online at the same time. They are typically from 5pm to midnight each day and all day at weekends.

This is likely to be more noticeable if you’re using applications that require a lot of bandwidth or you’re streaming video, particularly in HD.

When fewer Sky Broadband Connect customers are online at the same time there’s more bandwidth to share around so the length of time it takes to do data heavy activities is less.

Sky Broadband Connect Network Management Policy

Sky Broadband Connect is subject to a Network Management (or Fair Usage) Policy. The purpose of the Policy is to ensure we’re providing a fair and sustainable broadband service for all our Sky Broadband Connect customers.

Under the Policy, available network bandwidth is shared equally amongst all our Sky Broadband Connect customers who are online at the same time. This means that speeds may be slower at peak times when more Sky Broadband Connect customers are online, compared to at other times when fewer people are online. This could affect customers using applications that require a lot of bandwidth such as downloading films and other large files or streaming video via services like YouTube or Netflix.

Our network is busiest between 5pm and midnight on weekdays and all day at the weekend, but can be busy at other times too, depending on regional, national and international demand. Please note that this Network Management Policy only applies to Sky Broadband Connect and does not apply to any other Sky Broadband products.

[Isitme]

No mention of being penalized for using a lot of bandwidth? If that is true it will be good news for many Connect users.

[gymno]

From the drop-down info under 'Here's the legal bit' on this page:

Sky Broadband outside Network area: Connect is available at £17pm with no monthly usage cap (£30 set-up for existing Sky TV customers & customers without Sky TV). Maximum home download speeds up to 6Mbps. Connect subject to a Network Management Policy.

So great news indeed.

[Scubbie]

Just a 'heads up'... the 6Mbps relates to what the fastest 10% can get, in line with Ofcom rules.

Regular readers will appreciate that the Connect product uses ADSL technology and therefore it is possible to get a connection up to 8128kbps down and 448kbps up.