Sky business broadband is a popular choice for some small businesses. With with so many different providers offering business broadband and phone deals, is Sky broadband any good?
Overall, the Sky Business Broadband service for small businesses is a strong option compared to other business broadband plans, although it is by no means the cheapest business broadband available.
In this review, we look at the different offers, the pros and cons, prices, and what features you can expect.
Quick find…
- Sky Business Broadband Review
- About Sky Business Broadband
- Sky Business Broadband Plans, Prices & Features
- Pros & Cons
- Is Sky Business Broadband Right for my Business?
- Compare Sky Business Broadband
- Alternatives
Sky Business Broadband Review
Sky is known for offering high-quality and high-speed broadband services for home users. But how does Sky Business Broadband compare? One of the downsides of Sky is that it is often seen as a premium service and their packages can be expensive. We see if this generalisation is true in our below review.
Want to quickly compare business broadband plans? Visit our free broadband compare tool.
About Sky Business Broadband
Sky is a household name in the UK. Many people have a Sky TV or Sky Sports subscription, and many also utilize Sky broadband. It is used by millions of people and the company generally has a great reputation. It has been providing telecommunications services in the UK for decades, and recently it has branched out to provide small business broadband.
This is Sky Connect. Sky Connect aims to provide fibre broadband to small businesses throughout the UK that is accessible and easy to set up.
Sky Business Broadband Plans, Prices & Features
Compared to some other business broadband providers like BT, Sky has a relatively simple set of price plans.
It currently has three business plans – Essential, Pro, and Plus. The packages offer varying features and speeds and are suitable for different business sizes. We have listed the current price plans below:
- Essential: £29.95 per month (24-month contract)
- Pro: £39.95 per month (24-month contract)
- Plus: £49.95 per month (24-month contract)
Essential Package
This is the basic business broadband package and is aimed at small businesses with 1-3 employees. There is an introductory offer currently available for this plan too – for the first 12 months, you pay a reduced price of £16.95 which is a 44% saving for the initial year.
This package includes:
- Download/upload speeds: 76mbps & 28mbps
- 1 telephone line
If you have a small business that just needs basic internet access for things like emails and eCommerce maintenance, this could be a great choice. Compared to other business broadband plans, it is quite basic with limited features, but the first-year introductory price is definitely a bargain.
Pro Package
Next, we have the pro package which is Sky’s mid-range offering. The standard price is £39.95 per month, however, like the Essential Package, there is currently an introductory offer. For the first 12 months, you pay just £26.95 which equates to a saving of 33%. The Pro Package includes:
- Download/upload speeds: 150mbps & 28mbps
- 4G always-on router
- 1 telephone line
The big benefit here is the improved top download speeds of up to 150mbps and the 4G always-on router. These features are vital if your business has more intense internet usage. It is advised this package is suitable for companies with 1-9 employees.
We like the 4G always-on router too for redundancy. Should your fibre broadband connection fail, the router will automatically transfer to a 4G connection so that you always have internet access.
Plus Package
Lastly, there is the Plus package which is intended for larger businesses that operate mainly online. It is suitable for companies with 3-12 employees and currently has no introductory offer. This price plan includes:
- Download/upload speeds: 150mbps/28mbps
- 4G always-on router
- 2 telephone lines
The main difference here is that the download and upload speeds are guaranteed whereas, for the other two plans, the speeds are “up to”. Effectively, you are paying £10.00 extra per month for guaranteed 150mbps/28mbps speeds, and an extra telephone line – you have to weigh up whether this is worth it.
The 4G always-on router is an excellent feature to ensure constant connectivity
Sky Business Broadband Pros & Cons
Pros
- Reliable service and great coverage.
- The call forwarding feature is great for businesses.
- Always-on-internet is a useful feature to ensure business continuity.
- Unlimited data usage for all business broadband packages.
Cons
- One of the more expensive business broadband providers.
- The different packages are quite light on features.
It is important to understand the pros and cons of Sky Business Broadband so you can weigh up if this is a suitable provider for your business. We delve into the main pointers below:
Pros
Firstly, Sky Business Broadband is reliable and it does offer great overall broadband service. If you choose this provider, you can expect a stable connection, consistent speeds, and a broadband service that is easy to set up. Although they do not offer as fast speeds as some other providers, either 76mbps or 150mbps is more than adequate for small businesses and constant daily use.
Secondly, we really like the VoiceEdge digital call service. This works in conjunction with your digital phone line and has a great range of call features. For example, you can set calls to ring on up to 5 phones simultaneously. Also, it has a great call forwarding feature so that you never miss a business opportunity.
Thirdly, in today’s 24/7 online world, something like the always-on-internet feature is incredibly handy. This means that if the Sky business broadband service is temporarily unavailable, you can still use the backup 4G mobile connection. Yes, this is not as fast, but it is an acceptable stand-in until the broadband issue is resolved.
Lastly, having an unlimited data allowance on all packages is also beneficial. We would expect this as standard from any business broadband provider, but it is still a plus. This means that you don’t have to worry about download limits and your business can do things like live streaming and video conference calls.
Cons
Although Sky Business Broadband does have many positives, it does have some potential drawbacks too. Firstly, it is certainly not the cheapest business broadband provider available. The basic Essential package is not the cheapest at £29.95 per month.
Furthermore, the mid-tier Pro plan without its discount is more expensive than comparative packages from BT and Vodafone.. Also, the mid-range Advantage Plus package at its standard pre-discount price is much more expensive than comparative packages from BT, and Vodafone.
You must also consider the maximum download and upload speeds of Sky Business Broadband. Currently, Sky offers maximum speeds of 76 Mbps. Of course, this is still fibre-optic speed and it is certainly better than most home broadband services.
However, larger businesses may find this limiting. In comparison, companies like BT offer upgraded download packages with speeds of up to 900 Mbps.
Lastly, compared to the other providers, one may consider Sky’s packages to be relatively light on features. Some may feel that the packages simply feel a little basic and underwhelming.
Is Sky Business Broadband Right for my Business?
You should now have a clear idea of what to expect from the different Sky Business Broadband packages. But are any of them right for you? The Sky packages are better suited to established businesses or businesses that aren’t as concerned with the cost.
If you simply want an affordable, reliable broadband service for your business, there are cheaper options available from other providers.
Sky excels regarding digital phone lines and phone services in conjunction with broadband. Therefore, if you are a business looking for broadband and a completely digital telephone setup, the Essential or Pro packages could be beneficial.
Furthermore, the 4G always-on router is a big plus and ensures constant connectivity for those companies heavily reliant on their internet connection.
Compare Sky Business Broadband
When looking for a business broadband provider, it is important to compare their packages with other providers. Below, we have listed some notable pointers on how Sky Business Broadband compares to BT, Vodafone, and other major UK providers:
- Compared to providers like BT, Sky Business Broadband currently doesn’t offer download speeds greater than 150mbps.
- Sky provides 4G always-on backup coverage in its Pro and Plus packages similar to BT where other companies have this as a paid extra.
- Sky has a discount first-year offer for their Essential and Pro packages whereas BT and some other providers do not.
Alternatives to Sky Business Broadband
Here’s some of the other options you have for business broadband. Use our comparison tool below to compare prices and features.
- Plusnet Business Broadband
- Vodafone Business Broadband
- Virgin Business Broadband
- BT Business Broadband
For mobile broadband providers, check out EE business and O2 business for some of the best coverage available.
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