Sky packages - Sky TV, Sky Talk and Sky Broadband

Sky Broadband is a range of products offering Sky TV customers quick, convenient and secure internet access. All Sky Broadband products give you a high-speed, ‘always-on’ connection. With Sky Broadband, you can also make and receive phone calls while you're online. All Sky Broadband products come with a wireless router, 10 sky.com email addresses, and 12 months' free McAfee security, to help protect you and your family from spam, identity theft and other online risks.

Sky's dedicated network offers three options - Sky Broadband Base, Mid and Max. If you live outside Sky's broadband network, you can probably get Sky Broadband Connect instead.

Sky Broadband Base* is excellent for everyday browsing, with up to 2Mb* download speed and 2GB per month usage allowance. Sky Broadband Base has a free monthly subscription. One off standard set up cost of £30 applies for any combination of Sky products when you join Sky TV as a new customer online, £60 for existing customers taking any Sky box and combination of Sky products. For existing customers taking Sky Broadband alone (without another Sky box) Base - £75; Mid & Connect - £50; Max - £0 or if you already have or take Sky Talk: Base - £50; Mid & Connect - £25; Max - £0. Set up is £120 for non-Sky digital subscribers. Sky Talk is free of set up costs. Non-standard set up may cost extra.

Sky Broadband Mid* is perfect if you're a regular internet user and want to download music and short video clips. With up to 8Mb* download speed and a 40GB monthly usage allowance, it's just £5 per month. One off standard set up cost of £30 applies for any combination of Sky products when you join Sky TV as a new customer online, £60 for existing customers taking any Sky box and combination of Sky products. For existing customers taking Sky Broadband alone (without another Sky box) Base - £75; Mid & Connect - £50; Max - £0 or if you already have or take Sky Talk: Base - £50; Mid & Connect - £25; Max - £0. Set up is £120 for non-Sky digital subscribers. Sky Talk is free of set up costs. Non-standard set up may cost extra.

Sky Broadband Max* lets your whole family download music, movies and sports clips with download speeds of up to 16Mb* and unlimited usage. One off standard set up cost of £30 applies for any combination of Sky products when you join Sky TV as a new customer online, £60 for existing customers taking any Sky box and combination of Sky products. For existing customers taking Sky Broadband alone (without another Sky box) Base - £75; Mid & Connect - £50; Max - £0 or if you already have or take Sky Talk: Base - £50; Mid & Connect - £25; Max - £0. Set up is £120 for non-Sky digital subscribers. Non-standard set up may cost extra.

Sky Broadband Connect* is for customers outside Sky's broadband network. It offers up to 8Mb* download speed and a 40GB monthly usage allowance - the same as Sky Broadband Mid and is priced at £17 per month. One off standard set up cost of £30 applies for any combination of Sky products when you join Sky TV as a new customer online, £60 for existing customers taking any Sky box and combination of Sky products. For existing customers taking Sky Broadband alone (without another Sky box) Base - £75; Mid & Connect - £50; Max - £0 or if you already have or take Sky Talk: Base - £50; Mid & Connect - £25; Max - £0. Set up is £120 for non-Sky digital subscribers. Sky Talk is free of set up costs. Non-standard set up may cost extra.

We're continually expanding the network through which we provide our broadband products, and this has already reached many parts of the country. With each day, more and more people are able to get Sky Broadband Base, Mid and Max. However, if our network hasn't reached where you live, you can still get Sky Broadband Connect, which is available almost everywhere.

A router allows you to connect several PCs or laptops to the internet, so several people in your home can be online at the same time. A wireless router uses radio signals to communicate between the various computers connected to it, doing away with messy cables. If your computing equipment isn't currently set up for wireless connection to the internet, you can buy the necessary equipment from Sky to enable it.

McAfee Internet Security Suite offers PC users comprehensive protection against online risks:

• It helps block and remove viruses so you can download files without worrying, and shields your computer from security-compromising spyware.
• Special features help protect and conceal your PC from would-be hackers.
• Files you download are automatically backed-up so you can easily restore them and your online identity is protected, enabling you to shop, bank and email with more confidence.
• Protects against Spam and ‘phishing’ scams, and parental filters help shield your kids from sites or content you’d rather they didn't see.
• Protects you from dangerous Web sites by adding intuitive red, yellow and green icons to your web browser and search results to help keep you safe as you search, browse, and transact online, so you know you are visiting safe sites.

You will get the latest upgrades and enhancements automatically delivered, so you can be sure your Internet Security Suite is ready to defeat even the latest online threats and aggravations.

As a Sky Broadband customer, you'll get 12 months free McAfee internet security for up to three computers, with the product that's perfect for your equipment. If you use PCs, you'll receive McAfee Internet Security Suite (worth £49.99). If you use Apple Macs you'll get McAfee VirusScan (worth £19.99).

No. To get Sky Broadband, you need to join, or have joined, Sky TV. You can also choose to add Sky Talk - Sky's great-value phone service - although this is optional.

To get Sky Broadband, you need to be a Sky TV customer. Joining Sky TV currently costs as little as £16 a month and you can order Sky Broadband as soon as you join. You'll also need a PC that meets Sky Broadband's minimum system requirements, and maintain an active BT landline.

To get Sky Broadband, you'll need to make sure your computer meets the minimum specifications below. You'll also need to maintain an active BT landline.

PC minimum specification:

• Windows 2000 or higher
• 133MHz or higher
• Spare Ethernet port
• 100MB hard drive space
• RAM - 64MB or higher

Mac minimum specification:

• Processor - 266MHz Power PC G3 or greater
• Spare Ethernet port
• OS X v10.2.6 (Jaguar) or higher
• RAM - 128MB

You need to stay with your chosen Sky Broadband product for a minimum of 12 months. As long as you have Sky Broadband, you will also need to be with Sky TV.

Yes - although you'll first need to cancel the contract you have with your existing provider (which may have a minimum term). To switch, you'll also need to ask your existing provider for a MAC code, which you'll require when ordering Sky Broadband. See 'What if I can't get a MAC code?' below.

A MAC code is a string of numbers you request from your existing broadband provider. We use it purely to ensure that the provision of your new Sky Broadband and the cancellation of your old service are timed together as closely as possible. That way, the time you're without broadband is kept to a minimum.

Only once we've confirmed Sky Broadband is available for you to buy - you need to use the MAC code within 30 days of getting it, otherwise the code will expire. Most broadband providers are obliged to give you a MAC code within five days of you requesting it.

Most broadband providers issue MAC codes. But if you're now getting your broadband from one of the few providers that doesn't, you need to contact them and cancel the broadband on your phone line. You'll need to do the same if your broadband is provided through an 'LLU' broadband network. (See also 'What is LLU?' below.) It can take up to five days for your existing broadband to be cancelled, and another five days for BT's database - which we use for reference - to be updated. So, once you've cancelled your existing broadband, it may take up to 10 days in total for your Sky Broadband to go live.

A quick and simple way to find out is to click on the link on the right. This will take you to our Sky Broadband availability checker. Just enter your phone number and click on 'Check Availability'. We will then check your number, and let you know if you need to get a MAC code or not - we will also let you know if we cannot accept a MAC Code from you (for example, if your current broadband is provided through a specific type of broadband network called 'LLU'). See also 'What is LLU?' below.

Use Broadband Checker

Some providers supply broadband through a local loop unbundling (LLU) network. This is a privately owned network located between the local BT exchange and the customer's home. See also 'What if I can't get a MAC code?' above.

You need a BT compatible telephone line to use Sky broadband, you do not have to be a BT customer. We check this when you order. If you are moving from a different telephone company or have recently moved to a new house, you need to be the registered owner of that telephone line. We suggest you wait 24 hours after your telephone line has been activated before signing up for Sky Broadband

Before you join Sky Broadband, contact your existing internet provider and ask them for advice on the best way to move your broadband account without losing service. They may give you a "MAC code" that you can use to switch to Sky. A MAC code will help to seamlessly migrate your broadband service from most current providers in a few simple steps, ensuring minimum downtime and maximum service.

Your MAC code should be 17 or 18 characters long and start with FTIP, BBDS, BBIP, or L.

In some cases you may not be able to use a MAC Code to switch to Sky from your current ISP - in that case you will need to cancel your current broadband service before you can order Sky Broadband.

The time for a stand alone Sky Broadband installation is normally 50 minutes. However, this may vary depending on the position of the phone connections and power cables in your home. If you are having Sky TV installed at the same time, then on average another 50 minutes and will be conducted by the same engineer.

Your Sky Broadband wireless signal can be up to 150m (490ft), so you can surf the Internet anywhere in your home.

No. Many of today's PCs and Macs are already wireless enabled. If this is not the case, you may need to buy a wireless adapter.

If you don't have a wireless enabled device, wireless adapters are available for everything from laptops to music systems.

You can connect up to 4 computers on your Sky router.

To connect more than one PC using Ethernet, you simply need to attach each PC to the router using an Ethernet cable. You can connect up to four PCs in this way.

To connect more than one PC wirelessly, you will need to have a wireless adapter installed on each of the PCs you wish to use and then configure each adapter with the necessary security information.

Sky Broadband gives you ten free email addresses ending with "@sky.com." You choose the first one when you order Sky Broadband and you can then set up to nine once your subscription is active.

Sky Broadband offers parental control as part of the McAfee Internet Security Suite (free for the first 12 months of your Sky Broadband subscription). This enables you to block websites, set age limits and decide at what time of day your children can go online.

When you order online, we ask you enter your main landline number, including the area code.

This enables us to check that you have a working landline - essential for ordering Sky.

We can also check to see which Sky Broadband and Sky Talk products your telephone line can support and tell you straight away before you order.

Yes, Sky Broadband, and the Sky wireless router are fully compatible with Windows Vista. McAfee Internet Security Suite 2007 that comes on the Broadband Get Set CD with the router is compatible with all versions of Windows Vista used with 32-bit processors (all standard versions of Windows Vista, and the majority of home users). The 2008 version available to download from www.sky.com/security is also compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows Vista (typically for advanced users).

OS X v10.2.6 (Jaguar) or later operating system, 128MB of memory, a 266MHz Power PC G3 processor, 100MB of hard drive space, the Safari browser and either a vacant Ethernet port (for a wired connection) or the Apple AirPort for a wireless connection.

Once you have provided Sky with a valid MAC, we aim to switch your broadband service over to Sky Broadband within 7 working days from when you place your order. We will, however, confirm by letter the exact date. The switch could take place any time up until midnight of that date.

If you're a cable customer, it's more complex for us to switch you to Sky Broadband than if you have a BT landline. So we have a dedicated customer services team to help. Call them on 08442 411 076, or email helpline@bskyb.com.

Find out more about switching from cable to Sky

Not yet. Please contact our dedicated customer services team first on 08442 411 076, or email helpline@bskyb.com.

You should be able to access Sky Broadband within just 20 days. To allow for your number to be registered on BT's systems you must wait 5 working days after your line is installed before calling us to place your Sky Broadband order. Once we have received your order it will take up to 15 days to activate your Sky Broadband connection.

In some instances a BT line should be free of charge, although it could cost up to £125, see BT costs. To find out how we can help, call one of our advisors on 08442 410 323.

We can give you an indication of the product you can get from us right now. You just need to give us your postcode. Once your BT line is installed and registered on BT's systems, we'll be able to accurately inform you of the Sky Broadband products available to you.

If you are a Virgin Cable customer your services will not be affected. If you are switching from another broadband provider you should only be without broadband service for 30 minutes to 2 hours on the day of switchover.

No. As a cable customer all you need to do is join Sky TV and follow the steps inside. However, if you are with another broadband provider, you will need to contact them for your MAC.

A one-off standard set-up cost of £30 applies to Sky TV and Sky Broadband when you join Sky TV as a new customer online. If you have already booked Sky TV, there is no additional charge if you book Sky Broadband within 6 weeks of your TV booking date. For existing customers taking Sky Broadband alone (without another Sky box) Base - £75; Mid & Connect - £50; Max - £0 or if you already have or take Sky Talk: Base - £50; Mid & Connect - £25; Max - £0.

If you're a cable services customer and have any other questions about switching to Sky Broadband, call our dedicated customer services team on 08442 411 076. Or email helpline@bskyb.com.