Sky fibre optic coming
 

With the news coming from Sky, about having no more dishes. And having fibre optic cable.

This will be a brilliant idea. And maybe VM could reduce its prices as what's the point of having VM cables etc.

When Sky can offer a better deal.

What do members think

Re: sky fibre optic coming
 

Hoe do you know that they will offer a better deal?

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Well they wont get much business if they offer a worse deal.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Yes of course, but it still may not be better, could be similar, and the attraction to a lot of VM customers may well be the fact that they have Atlantic, so some VM customers may well switch for this very reason, and still pay similar to what they did with VM, mind you it'll be interesting to see what their BB speed is like.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I was convinced that Sky would do something with CityFibre more than York - but maybe they're not ready yet, or are also talking to Gigaclear and others. Problem with the dish is you can't as easily spy on your customers for market research purposes. Also, with TV waning, companies such as Sky need a triple-play offering they can build their future on.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Think the only difference is that there will be no need for a dish Arthur (great idea) the delivery will still be Sky branded Openreach Broadband?

Will be a huge cost saver for Sky which hopefully will reduce prices.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Will it be a huge cost saver?

What about costly of getting fibre BB into millions of houses without it.

Even if it saves them money, it will probably mean more profit for Sky!


I would think it has more to do with growing customer base as there must be a lot of people unable to have a dish because of planning restrictions or trees in way etc. Are they plateauing out on their numbers?

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

All the rural Broadband not-spots will love this.

You can't have a dish & your Broadband's not fast enough so hard luck.

So much for the 2% that can't have satellite now.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

The Sky service over broadband is a welcome alternative to satellite for those who do not want or cannot have a dish. As for broadband: Sky would love to sell more, but it's technically quite feasible to use any ISP's service. I'm guessing that Sky's new service will need up to 50mbps, so any Virgin Media broadband customer already has the capability to stream Sky's content when it becomes available (probably in 2019).

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I'm not technically minded but I'm guessing that once this is in place Sky will be able to stream their programmes like the Virgin Media on demand and Netflix offerings. If so then shows on the current satellite system will not need to be downloaded as they are at present before they can be viewed making it almost like cable.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Let’s not forget that Sky customers like the ability to download on demand and even complain that you can’t do it when they defect to Virgin Media.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

My daughters can't get Virgin and they are impressed that we can just go straight into on demand without downloading it first.

Why would anyone want to download it rather than go straight in? If you want a particular 'on demand' programme on 'My Shows', just bookmark it.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I thought that with Sky Q a lot of their On Demand is streamed, but they have a download buffer so that the box can cope with the varying broadband speeds, rather than the old school version where it came from a hidden channel and was a special linear recording.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

The reason you would want to do it is so you can keep the recording for longer than the catch up or On Demand window.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I thought the programme disappeared when it was taken off on demand. If that is not correct, I guess they have a point.

I still prefer the VM method, though.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Sky Q actually uses a mixture of both progressive download and streaming.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Currently here BT and Sky can only offer a maximum of about 56Mbps via broadband - which BT say is too slow to provide their UHD channel.

---------- Post added at 18:46 ---------- Previous post was at 18:44 ----------

Broadband will be an alternative - not a replacement.

And I suspect for many users it will be a downgrade to their current service.

Imagine the download speed required to perform a UHD stream and six HD recordings all at the same time - and perhaps a UHD movie download too - and still have enough space to do some streaming on a laptop or two.

It may launch next year - but will be a limited service in most areas to start with.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Nobody knows what the Q dishless service will entail , I completely agree even with Virgin's fastest broadband service you'd struggle to replicate what Q over satellite offers.

The only way you could realistically have a service similar is if everything is moved to the cloud and even then those on poor broadband lines would be ruled out.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

For what it's worth, Virgin Media mandates that you must have their VIVID 100 (100mbps) product or better in order to get a V6 box, claiming that this speed is necessary for 4K streaming.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

That’s no longer true. The current Player bundle includes V6 and 50Mb broadband.
http://www.virginmedia.com/shop/bund...er-bundle.html

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

My interpretation is that Virgin Media was being less than truthful in claiming that 100mbps was needed, failed to get enough customers, so have now reduced the requirement to their lowest speed (50mbps). I also think that it's only a matter of time that VM drops the requirement to buy broadband from them as a requirement to get a V6 box, especially if people will be able to get Sky content without a dish via any ISP's broadband.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

When we get any worthwhile 4K channels we will be able to tell how fast broadband we need:mad:

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

This also begs the question of what happens to all the FTA channels on satellite who only pay Sky for an EPG slot. Are Sky going to give these channels an ultimatum to "join our platform & pay up or you are off the EPG on our fibre service". Or will the service become a Hybrid satellite/fibre service with the unencrypted channels still fed by the dish & the pay channels fed via fibre.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Virgin Media's policy is to be a content aggregator, so there is a one-stop shop for content. However, as Sky Sports and BT Sport have refused to allow their 4K programmes to be broadcast on VM's platform, then VM's customers have to make do with 4K content from YouTube and Netflix.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

They might go down the Youview route. A service combining Freeview and OTT channels delivered by broadband. Seems to make the most sense as the new service doesn't appear to be aimed at current SKY customers, it's aimed at those who have not been able to to get SKY or cable in their area due to various reasons. I'd imagine their true target audience already has broadband and a TV aerial.

A cross between the Now TV smart box and Sky Q. Having the Freeview channels on the EPG for "free" would allow them to put together some attractively priced packages like Talk Talk and Plusnet have managed to do in the past.

Just guessing

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I think this will come from a software upgrade to the Sky Q boxes that allow streaming via the ethernet port and by proxy via WiFi to other boxes in the house. They'll probably use HEVC to start with and recommend minimum 50Mb/s and suggest that for multiple channels at once you need even more bandwidth. With 1Gbit/s in the pipeline however, in a few years, it won't be an issue.

Satellite won't go away fully until broadcast TV itself becomes unprofitable, I think.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I personally think this is great news for customers. Prices must surely come down, and there will be a price war. And the customer will go for the better service.

At the moment There are several services that provide quality channels - something that VM boast about - but never produce.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Apart from Sky Atlantic, what are these quality channels that Virgin Media don't have, Arthur?

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Part of the reason I left Virgin Media was due to the ridiculous amount of time they can take to add a new channel to their platform. Sometimes it takes over a year to get a new Freeview channel on the EPG. Far too frustrating. The latest example is Freesports.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Agreed, they aren't very quick to update changes to the EPG either.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Don't you mean 'if' we get any 4K channels?

It would not surprise me if all the 4K on Virgin was provided by on demand/streaming.

---------- Post added at 12:58 ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 ----------

Well, as time goes on, Chad, I dare say that most broadcast channels will be closing down rather than starting up, and VM close down channels immediately! :D

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

So if Sky start streaming their TV service i guess they will be providing the equipment so is there any news what this will be and how much it'll cost yet?

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I believe they will be providing a box for this purpose, but I haven't seen any details yet.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a variant of the Q box as the mini ones already stream everything from the main box. So a bit of a software change and the main box could easily be configured for everything to be streamed.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

If VM updated their V6 box's software + a few tweaks here and there, they could probably stream their TV service over a BT line...

That is... seeing as some people will be streaming Sky Q over their virgin cable.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I would assume Sky will insist on their own broadband being purchased too when this TV service over broadband is launched. We'll know more once they announce the finer details.

Good job too, don't want my VM broadband speed being effected by others streaming all day and night :shocked:

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Sky doesn't have its own network, so cannot guarantee the necessary broadband speed like Virgin Media can. For Sky to tie its dishless service to its broadband will result in lower sales.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Could Virgin share their broadband with Sky? Would that be determined by spare capacity, if they have any of course, it could also open up talks for negotiating any channels/UHD that Sky could offer Virgin, interesting times ahead I think.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Sky uses Openreach lines to your home but all the equipment and core network you connect to is Sky's. BT guarantee it's TV service using multicast across it's own network and Sky could just as easily do the same in fact I'd be amazed if this product was opened to up to people on different ISP's at least early on as Sky wouldn't be able to guarantee service levels.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Are you saying that Sky has its LLU equipment in all its customers' exchanges? I find this to be unlikely.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Sky has its kit in 2794 exchanges if you want the exact figure there is only Talk Talk with more exchanges covered.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

The problem for operators such as Sky is that their broadband is based on inferior technology compared with the cable of Virgin Media. Sky may have very good LLU coverage but is reliant on Openreach. I probably cannot get more than 40mbps from Sky due to factors such as the distance between my house and the cabinet in which the DSLAM is installed and how Openreach configured the VDSL2 in the cabinet. In contrast, I get more than the promised 200mbps from Virgin Media's VIVID 200, and I have confidence that Virgin Media can deliver its service as it controls the optical nodes and line cards in the hub sites where contention can occur.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I don’t doubt you do get good speeds but there are still areas on Virgin what suffer heavily with peak time contention. Virgin is unbeatable in many areas but certainly not all.

People are jumping to conclusions with Sky Q over Broadband , for instance where has it said UHD will be available , where has it said the same amount of simultaneous recordings will be available.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

They already do
http://telecoms.com/144681/virgin-me...y-in-49m-deal/

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I thought I'd seen something mentioned about this before, thanks sp,the thing is, would they let Sky use Virgin's existing BB service to facilitate their new dish free offering, which would obviously result in Virgin losing customers, but at a cost to Sky?

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Openreach are now rolling out ultrafast. 100Mbps guaranteed minimum speed.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

I find it hard to believe that Ofcom would allow Virgin Media to block Sky's traffic.

---------- Post added at 21:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:58 ----------

Is this G.fast? If so, I'd be amazed if Openreach will invest in cabinets in my area.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

It will be a mixture of FTTP and G.fast initially. With 10M FTTP connections by 2025

https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/hom...fibreaccess.do

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42902064

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Maybe. But why on earth would anyone want Sky if they can get cable? ;)

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

From a personal perspective, I can't get enthusiastic about G.fast as the length of the copper wire to the cabinet becomes even more important. As my nearest cabinet is over 400 metres from my house, I won't get particularly fast broadband even if a G.fast extension pod gets attached to the cabinet.

Re: Sky fibre optic coming
 

Do you mean for TV or Internet ?

I have Sky internet as a backup to my Virgin connection.

For TV, we prefer Sky to Virgin - we tried the Tivo for [almost] a year and just could not get on with the inteface, and went back to Sky.