Sky has launched its new broadband offering, Sky Broadband Ultrafast. It said the new service will allow customers to do more online, on more devices than ever before, all at the same time.

Sky Broadband Ultrafast 1, with average download speeds of 145Mbps, is priced at £39 a month for 18 months. Sky Broadband Ultrafast 2, offering average download speeds of 285Mbps, is priced at £49 a month.

Sky said Sky Broadband Ultrafast has been developed to address households’ ever-growing connectivity needs, as we live in a world where multiple devices are demanding fast connections all at the same time.

With ultrafast speeds, a household could download a HD movie to a tablet in minutes, stream TV shows in 4K or high-quality music from a smartphone to a smart speaker, and play the latest online games, all while browsing the web.

Kathryn Imrie, director of broadband at Sky, said: “Fast and reliable broadband is an essential part of the family household today, and it’s only going to get more important in future. We want our customers to be able to do even more online, on more devices, without seeing their connection lag or drop. As a Sky Broadband Ultrafast customer, you will be able to seamlessly watch an HD movie, while your partner surfs the web and your kids are gaming in their bedroom.”

Dani Warner, broadband expert at uSwitch.com, said: “Sky’s entry into the world of ultrafast broadband is exciting news for consumers, and a big step in driving down the price of full fibre connectivity.

“Households looking for these types of speeds have traditionally had to choose between Virgin’s cable network or BT or smaller suppliers such as Hyperoptic and Gigaclear – although they are only available in limited areas.

“Another provider joining the mix will be music to the ears of those looking to upgrade, as increased competition should lead to lower costs in the ultrafast space – and Sky have already undercut BT’s ultrafast offer by £15 a month.

“Although this announcement does widen the market for those considering an ultrafast connection, it’s worth checking your own needs before upgrading. If you’re only surfing the net to read the news, or watch a few videos on social media, the truth this level of speed isn’t necessarily for you. So, check before you click and make sure you are buying a service which actually matches your needs.”