Multiple users online at the same time, frequent game downloads and large work files are good reasons to choose Sky Full Fibre Gigafast. Its average download speed of 900Mbps is 80% higher than Full Fibre 500, while the current offers are close in monthly cost.
The average upload speed is 90Mbps on Openreach and 900Mbps on CityFibre. Sky’s faster Full Fibre 1.6Gbps package adds quicker downloads and a Wi-Fi 7 hub, but its 100Mbps average upload speed on Openreach provides only a small improvement for sending files.
Plan details
| Feature | Sky Full Fibre Gigafast |
|---|---|
| Average download speed / average upload speed | Openreach: 900Mbps / 90Mbps CityFibre: 900Mbps / 900Mbps |
| Connection type | Full fibre (FTTP) through Openreach or CityFibre, with fibre connected to an optical network terminal (ONT) inside your home |
| Supplied equipment | Sky Max Hub (SR213), with dual-band Wi-Fi 6 on 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Three Gigabit Ethernet ports remain available for wired devices after connecting the fibre box. |
| Speed protection | Sky confirms your minimum download speed when ordering. If the connection to your hub falls below it for three consecutive days, you can leave without early termination charges under the Speed Guarantee. |
| Price changes | Prices can change during the 24-month minimum term. The monthly charge increases by £5 when that term ends. |
| Installation and transfer | An engineer installs the fibre cable and ONT for a new full-fibre connection. Sky coordinates the transfer from your existing provider through One Touch Switch. |
| Additional options | Sky Stream Essential TV or Ultimate TV; Sky Talk Evenings & Weekends Extra, Anytime Extra or International Extra; WiFi Max with a 25Mbps guarantee in covered rooms and up to three Max Pods where needed |
Sky permits cancellation without early termination charges after three consecutive days below your personal minimum download speed to the hub, subject to its guarantee terms.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Nearly halves the wait for large downloads compared with Full Fibre 500. | Openreach uploads are slower than BT Full Fibre 900 and Vodafone Full Fibre 910. |
| CityFibre uploads large projects ten times faster than the Openreach version. | Ordinary streaming and calls gain little from the upgrade over 500Mbps. |
| Full wired speed is achievable without multi-gigabit equipment. | Older Wi-Fi devices can leave much of the extra speed unused. |
What you can do with 900Mbps speeds
Gigafast is particularly useful when several people download large files together. Two downloads can each run at 300Mbps while other people continue watching television.
| Activity | Gigafast performance |
|---|---|
| Two 300Mbps downloads alongside three Netflix 4K streams | 645Mbps of download bandwidth in total, allowing 15Mbps per stream; 255Mbps remains |
| Six people using GeForce NOW at supported 4K/120fps settings | 270Mbps of download bandwidth at NVIDIA’s recommended 45Mbps per player |
| Uploading a 20GB folder | About 29 minutes 38 seconds at 90Mbps, or 2 minutes 58 seconds at 900Mbps |
These are examples of simultaneous use, rather than maximum device counts. Streaming requires suitable subscriptions and equipment. Transfer times assume decimal file sizes and a constant speed; Wi-Fi, other traffic and server limits can extend them.
For home workers, the upload difference deserves particular attention. The CityFibre connection is much better suited to regularly sending video projects or backing up large folders. On Openreach, a lengthy upload can still compete with work calls even though the download connection has plenty of bandwidth available.
Sky Broadband Router
Sky Full Fibre Gigafast comes with the Sky Max Hub (SR213), a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. It supports WPA3 wireless security, with Wi-Fi settings managed through the My Sky app.
The hub has four Gigabit Ethernet ports. Connecting the fibre box uses one, leaving three for a computer, games console or TV. These ports support Gigafast’s 900Mbps download speed. Ethernet is particularly useful for large downloads, as wireless performance depends on your device, distance from the hub and interference. Our Sky hub guide explains the specifications and controls.
WiFi Max is an optional paid add-on for improving coverage. On Gigafast, it includes a minimum 25Mbps Wi-Fi speed guarantee in covered rooms, with up to three Max Pods supplied where needed. Receiving the Max Hub alone does not include this service. See the WiFi Max features and coverage conditions for details.
Home phone and Sky TV
Gigafast includes Sky Talk Pay As You Talk, with calls charged separately. For regular calls, Sky Talk Anytime Extra includes calls to UK landlines and mobiles throughout the week. International Extra also includes landline calls to 50 overseas destinations. The phone connects through the Sky hub using Internet Calls and needs working broadband and power.
Gigafast can be bundled with either of these Sky Stream packages:
| TV package | What is included |
|---|---|
| Essential TV | More than 100 channels, including Sky Atlantic, plus Netflix Standard with Ads and discovery+ |
| Ultimate TV | Everything in Essential TV, plus over 30 extra channels, including Sky Witness and U&Gold; Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic with Ads and Hayu content |
Sky Stream uses a puck connected to your TV by HDMI and receives channels over broadband, so it does not need a satellite dish. Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and TNT Sports are optional additions to the TV package.
Sky Full Fibre Gigafast for gaming
Gigafast is particularly useful for downloading large games and updates. Its 900Mbps average download speed reduces calculated download times by about 44% compared with Full Fibre 500.
| Game or update size | Calculated time at 900Mbps |
|---|---|
| 50GB | 7 minutes 24 seconds |
| 100GB | 14 minutes 49 seconds |
| 200GB | 29 minutes 38 seconds |
These calculations use decimal gigabytes and the full connection speed. Other downloads, game-server limits and Wi-Fi can lengthen the transfer, while installation and verification take additional time.
Once a game is installed, latency matters more than the download speed. For context, Ofcom’s March 2023 tests recorded median latency of 4.9–7.3ms across the full-fibre packages tested, compared with 14.8ms for Virgin Media Gig1. Sky Gigafast was not included in that comparison, so these figures should not be treated as its measured ping.
For cloud gaming, NVIDIA recommends 45Mbps per player for supported GeForce NOW 4K gaming at 120 frames per second. Two players therefore need 90Mbps of download bandwidth. NVIDIA also requires latency below 80ms to its data centre. Connect a gaming PC or console by Ethernet where practical, and limit background downloads during play.
Sky Full Fibre Gigafast for streaming
Gigafast comfortably supports several 4K streams, with plenty of bandwidth available for downloads and other activities.
| Streaming service | Recommended speed per 4K stream | Simultaneous viewing |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix Premium | 15Mbps | Four streams use 60Mbps |
| NOW with Ultra Boost | 30Mbps | Three streams use 90Mbps |
These screen limits apply to the subscriptions, rather than the broadband connection. Compatible devices and suitable content are also required for 4K viewing.
With three NOW Ultra HD streams running, a game download limited to 700Mbps brings the combined demand to 790Mbps. That leaves 110Mbps of download bandwidth for other activities. A 100GB game would take about 19 minutes 3 seconds at that download speed.
The Netflix Standard with Ads subscription included in Sky TV packages provides HD viewing on two screens. Netflix Premium is needed for Netflix 4K. For eligible Sky programmes in UHD, Sky Stream requires the separate Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos TV pack and a compatible 4K television.
Is Sky Full Fibre Gigafast any good?
Gigafast is worth considering for households that frequently download games, transfer video files or have several people downloading at once. Its speed fits within the limits of ordinary Gigabit Ethernet, making it easier to use fully than Sky’s faster packages.
On Openreach, upgrading from Full Fibre 500 increases the average download speed by 80%, but the average upload speed by 50%. CityFibre offers the more substantial benefit for people sending large files, with equal download and upload speeds.
The current price difference from 500Mbps is small. Compare the available Sky broadband offers, including the full contract cost. If your main activities are TV, browsing and video calls, a slower package is sufficient.
Alternatives to consider
These five packages from four providers offer comparable download speeds. The Openreach alternatives provide smaller upload improvements, while services with equal download and upload speeds are closer rivals to Gigafast on CityFibre.
| Alternative | Average download speed / average upload speed | What to compare with Gigafast |
|---|---|---|
| BT Full Fibre 900 | 900Mbps / 110Mbps | The same average download speed, with a higher average upload speed than Sky on Openreach |
| Vodafone Full Fibre 910 | Openreach: 910Mbps / 105Mbps; CityFibre or Community Fibre: 910Mbps / 910Mbps | Similar speeds on either network; compare the complete contract cost |
| Community Fibre 1Gbps | 1,000Mbps / 1,000Mbps | Slightly faster transfers in both directions and an included Wi-Fi 7 router |
| Virgin Media Gig1 | 1,130Mbps / 104Mbps on the standard package | Higher average download speed, with equipment that can carry more than Gigabit Ethernet |
| Vodafone Pro 3 Full Fibre 910 | Openreach: 910Mbps / 105Mbps; CityFibre or Community Fibre: 910Mbps / 910Mbps | Adds Wi-Fi 7, a booster and automatic 4G backup |
Availability determines which of these can serve your home. For heavy uploading, compare the network-specific average upload speed rather than choosing on the package name alone.
Sky Full Fibre Gigafast FAQs
Is Sky Gigafast 900Mbps or 1Gbps?
Sky currently advertises an average download speed of 900Mbps for Full Fibre Gigafast. Some comparison listings group it with 1Gbps packages, but 1Gbps is 1,000Mbps. Use the speed estimate Sky provides for your address.
Is Gigafast the same as Gigafast+?
No. Gigafast is the 900Mbps package. Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ and Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+ are faster CityFibre services. Sky’s Wi-Fi 7 Gigafast+ Hub also comes with Full Fibre 1.6Gbps on Openreach.
Why is my Gigafast Wi-Fi speed below 900Mbps?
The package’s average download speed describes the connection to the hub. Wireless speed depends on your device, signal strength, interference and distance. Test a capable computer over Gigabit Ethernet to check whether Wi-Fi or the broadband connection is limiting performance.
Can I order Gigafast without Sky TV?
Yes. Gigafast is available as a standalone broadband package. Sky TV and its included streaming subscriptions require a separate TV order or bundle.
Will Gigafast improve my ping compared with Full Fibre 500?
A faster download speed does not automatically reduce ping. Gigafast provides more bandwidth for downloads alongside gaming, but there is no guaranteed latency improvement over Full Fibre 500.