Sky to Acquire Telefónica UK's Broadband and Fixed-Line Telephony Business

[Saturday]

Certainly this could improve the backhaul for some, but I fear that this will be at the expense of Sky's customers in some areas.

One of the very many good things about O2BB is their core network* - currently nearing completion of a further upgrade. If anything, I suspect Sky has its eyes on that and if/when merged, will benefit Sky's existing customers.

* factored into the price Sky are paying (£200m for only 0.5m customers)

[gymno]

Samknows & kitz say be/o2 aren't in my exchange.

What will that mean for me?

[seawright]

Look at the time it took for UK Online BB customers to be migrated (in some cases kicking and screaming) to Sky BB even though both brands were trading names for Easynet (formerly owned by BSkyB) for over 5 years.

[Isitme]

Look at the time it took for UK Online BB customers to be migrated (in some cases kicking and screaming) to Sky BB even though both brands were trading names for Easynet (formerly owned by BSkyB) for over 5 years.

I think a lot of them jumped to BE/O2, now they will be back where they started.

[IWasNotTheEnemy]

I'm going to assume Sky are going to ruin my upload speeds once moved over...goodbye solid 1.3Mbps, hello flakey 1.1Mbps upstream

[dodger148]

There are two issues for me:
- Either side neighbours are on Sky B/B and both have much lower variable speeds than I do, and the Thompson Routers are very stable
- Customer Service. O2 are quite good and respond to queries via phone, email and text. I have tried on 2 previous occasions to order sky b/b (before going to O2) and they don't answer the phone quickly if ever and emails if you are luckly take weeks.

I will wait to see what happens and if it involves a contract of over 0 days I will be off.

[seawright]

I will wait to see what happens and if it involves a contract of over 0 days I will be off.

Back in 2007 I think that Sky BB customer service staff were totally overwhelmed by the high level of interest in what for Sky was a totally new product. You should find a vast improvement since your earlier attempts to contact them. As for a new contract, you will require a new router which if free would probably require a commitment on your part to remain with Sky BB to make it worth their while. The alternative would be for you to pay full price for the router/hub.

[speedyrite]

The O2 customer FAQs mention that a new router will not be required. Maybe there's a change in the offing for the rest of us?

[speedyrite]

The BE customer blog suggests that migration might not happen until nearer the end of the year.

[James_Mitchell]

There's an FAQ on the O2 | Home Broadband | Important news about your O2 Home Broadband website that states the following:

Will I need to get a new router?
No. You'll be able to keep using your O2 router.