About to join Connect service...some questions:

Hello Folks

I have just moved home and I'm about to take the plunge and join Sky Connect as i don't have any LLU supplier at my exchange (i am already a sky tv customer). I've never had sky broadband in the past. Some questions:

1) The price shown on sky's website for Connect is �17 pm but i've heard they're offering it for �10 pm to new customers if you call them up. Is this defintely the case or is it hit and miss? if they insist on �17 pm shall i slam the phone down and try again later?

2) I'm assuming i will have to sign up to a 12 month contract so if 6 months down the line, Sky LLU my exchange can i switch over to the LLU service or will i have to honour my original Connect contract?

3) Will i be forced to purchase sky's wirless router? If so, how easy is it to obtain the username and password from it so that i can use my own router? (wireless N)

Thanks in advance

Hi,
Can't answer point 1, but with 2 you should be fine - you are upgrading your service in their eyes. they always give you a router - nothing to buy, and you are not allowed to use your own router (although plenty do, and I've only heard of 1 unconfirmed case of someone being disconnected for using their own router).

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2) I'm assuming i will have to sign up to a 12 month contract so if 6 months down the line, Sky LLU my exchange can i switch over to the LLU service or will i have to honour my original Connect contract?

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You won't have any trouble - Connect is a BT Wholesale service which Sky subsidise, and it's only offered at cheap rate to those whose exchanges are due to be LLU'd. Since Connect costs Sky more than the LLU service, then you'll have no problems getting them to change you over. Sku LLU tends to fill up quite fast at newly-LLU'd exchanges, so if you're serious about getting Sky LLU, I'd advise you to go for it.

In the Sky T&C's they guarantee that should your exchange be LLU'd (and adopted by Sky) you will be placed on the Mid package automatically.

However, it appears that Sky have virtually completed their Broadband roll out and unless they take over Tiscali or the like in the near future those on the 'Connect' package will remain on that package for the foreseeable future.

I have just taken the plunge to the 'Connect' package and via 'Digital Spy' Sky forums have found out this interesting information. They did waive the �60.00 arrangement fee as I was on the max package for TV and gave me 3 months free Sky Talk Anytime Package (�15.00).

Remember that anyone who signs up is liable to a 12 month contract.

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However, it appears that Sky have virtually completed their Broadband roll out and unless they take over Tiscali or the like in the near future those on the 'Connect' package will remain on that package for the foreseeable future.

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Sky are still unbundling exchanges, but since 97% of the population live within 5km of a Sky-LLU enabled exchange, then obviously the rollout will slow down, as Sky fill in the gaps at a slightly slower pace. There have been at least 10 exchanges LLU'd by Sky in the last 6 months - Costessy, Norfolk (30/6/08), Dereham, Norfolk (9/6/08), Gorleston, Norfolk (9/6/08), Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (9/6/08), Lowestoft, Suffolk (9/6/08), Moorgate, London (8/10/08), Norwich City, Norwich North, Norwich West (9/6/08), and Thorpe, Norfolk (9/6/08).

I suggested to the OP that if Sky offered her Connect at reduced rate because of an impending exchange LLU, she should go for it, because takeup of Sky LLU can be quite rapid, and there can sometimes be a wait of a few months for more equipment to be installed, if the first installation becomes full. That is still valid advice, and yes, you should always read the contract.