- Sky uses CityFibre’s network plus a Gigafast+ WiFi 7 hub to reach 5 Gbps speeds.
- Critics warn average households may not utilise full bandwidth and face high costs.
What happened: Sky speeds ahead with Wi‑Fi 7 and record fibre speeds
Sky has announced the launch of its new broadband package featuring 5Gbps full‑fibre connectivity alongside a Wi‑Fi 7 Hub, making it the UK’s fastest major broadband provider, according to the company. The new service is available as part of its Gigafast plan, offering download speeds of up to 5Gbps and upload speeds of 1Gbps.
The new Wi‑Fi 7 Hub, exclusive to Sky Broadband, supports the latest wireless standard (802.11be) and is built to handle increased data demands from smart homes, gaming, and remote work. The router uses multiple bands and features “Intelligent Channel Selection” to minimise interference, offering more reliable connections across the home.
The company says this launch positions Sky to meet rising demand for high‑performance connectivity in UK homes, and marks a significant upgrade from typical FTTP (fibre to the premises) offerings. Sky also claims the product is future‑proof, supporting upcoming high‑bandwidth applications such as AR/VR streaming and smart city deployments.
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Why is important
Sky’s entry into multi‑gigabit broadband reflects broader shifts in the UK telecoms market. As demand grows for faster and more stable connections, especially with more devices per household, ISPs are under pressure to deliver future‑proof infrastructure. With this move, Sky joins the likes of Virgin Media O2 and BT in pushing full‑fibre coverage further.
However, questions remain about affordability and accessibility. Multi‑gigabit packages like Gigafast may appeal to tech‑savvy consumers, but pricing could still put it out of reach for lower‑income households. In addition, rural areas may not benefit unless fibre coverage is aggressively expanded. Industry analysts also note that real‑world performance can be affected by internal home wiring and device compatibility—meaning not every user will experience the advertised 5Gbps speed.
Still, Sky’s rollout signals a leap forward in consumer broadband, setting a new benchmark for rivals to follow and sparking renewed competition around advanced fibre technology and Wi‑Fi 7 adoption.
