A Comprehensive Sky Review: Is Sky Broadband Any Good for Gaming?

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If you're a gamer, you're probably looking for two things in a broadband provider: speed and consistency. You want the best deal possible that gives you fast internet with high stability and minimal lag.

If that's what you're looking for, Sky Broadband is an excellent internet provider to consider. They offer lightning-fast fibre deals that are built for high-speed, heavy gaming.

In this comprehensive review, we'll go over everything you need to know about Sky for gaming and more.

Sky Broadband Overview

Sky offers excellent broadband deals with stable connections, unlimited data, and optional add-ons and discounts.

All of their plans are available in fixed, 12-month contracts with early exit fees ranging from NZ $10.00 to NZ $149.99. They also allow you to use your own router or upgrade to their latest Sky WiFi 6 router for free.

Sky offers an optional entertainment service called Sky TV which gives you access to exclusive channels such as Sky Movies and Sky Sport.

Sky Broadband Plans

Here's a breakdown of the best Sky Broadband plans for gamers.

Fibre Starter Plan

The most basic Sky broadband plan is Fibre Starter, which provides an average speed of up to 50/10 Mbps. It offers a reliable network connection suitable for everyday use, such as streaming music and videos, browsing the internet, sending emails, using apps, and making video calls.

The Fibre Starter plan costs NZ $60 per month, and if you opt to add Sky TV, the monthly cost will be NZ $85.99.

This isn't the best fibre broadband plan for multiplayer online gaming, but you should still get a decent online gaming experience.

Fibre Everyday Plan

The Fibre Everyday Plan is an excellent choice for households with two to five devices that regularly connect to the internet. It provides an internet speed of up to 300/100 Mbps, making it suitable for 4k streaming, online gaming, and large-file downloads.

This plan costs NZ $85 per month, and if you sign up for a 12-month contract, you will receive an upfront credit of NZ $100. The Fibre Everyday + Sky TV Plan costs NZ $100.99 per month if you opt for entertainment services.

This is an excellent plan for gamers since download speeds of 100 Mbps or more are generally better for gaming.

Fibre Pro Plan

 

Sky's Fibre Pro plan is the fastest broadband option, providing average speeds of 865/497 Mbps. It's ideal for large households and demanding activities like heavy multiplayer online gaming.

The Fibre Pro plan costs NZ $105/month, and signing up for a 12-month contract gives you an upfront credit of NZ $250.

For customers who want to bundle their broadband with Sky TV, the Fibre Pro + Sky TV plan is available at NZ $110.99/month, offering savings of NZ $20/month.

Sky Broadband's Optional Add-ons

Sky provides cost-effective add-ons for new customers with various available discounts.

For instance, you can add a home phone service or transfer your existing home line to Sky for just $10 per month. Sky's home phone plans come with unlimited local home phone calls and beneficial features such as voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID.

You can also request a Static IP for just NZ $10/month.

Sky Broadband Pros and Cons

Pros

• Low Latency: Sky's low-latency internet connection is perfect for a lag-free gaming experience with minimal packet loss
• High Speeds: Sky's broadband plans have a download speed of up to 865 Mbps, which is well beyond the minimum speed required for gaming
• Add-ons and Discounts: Sky offers plenty of add-ons such as home phone services, WiFi boosters, and Static IP along with discounted entertainment services such as Sky TV

Cons

• Fixed Contracts: Most of Sky's broadband plans require a fixed-term contract of at least 12 months, although this is common with most internet providers in NZ (If you prefer less commitment, check out other no-contract broadband plans)
• Fibre-Only Broadband Provider: Sky doesn't offer wireless, copper-based, or satellite internet plans

Is Sky Broadband Good for Gaming?

Sky Broadband is an excellent option for gaming, but only if you can get a fibre broadband connection at your address. Since fibre isn't readily available in some parts of New Zealand, you should first check fibre availability in your area. If not, you can check out other deals by top broadband providers in NZ.

Here are a few reasons Sky Broadband is one of the best broadband providers for gamers.

Static IP Address

One of the best features Sky Broadband offers for gamers is an optional static IP address which comes with the following benefits:

• Easier Game Hosting: If you regularly host games, having a static IP allows other players to connect to your game server directly, rather than going through a third-party server
• Better Security: A static IP can provide an added layer of security for gamers making it harder for strangers to access your device
• Better Matchmaking: With a static IP, multiplayer games that use your IP address to match you with other players can accurately link you to other players, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience

To check your NZ IP Address, you can use Glimp's free IP Checker Tool.

Low Latency/Ping

 

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Latency, also known as ping, is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back. Lower latency means less delay or lag while gaming.

Ideally, you want your latency to be lower than 50ms for a smooth gaming experience, which is exactly what Sky broadband offers.

Unlimited Data Usage

There's nothing worse than losing your internet connection mid-game. Since all of Sky's broadband plans come with unlimited data allowances, you don't have to worry about running out of internet or buying extra GBs.

Fibre Broadband Connection

The great thing about Sky broadband is that all of their plans are fibre-based.

Fibre broadband connections are much more stable than wireless ones. They're not affected by environmental changes or proximity to cell towers. This means your gaming experience stays consistent regardless of what's happening outside your home.

Conclusion

Sky offers some of the best broadband deals for gamers who want fast speeds and minimal latency.

As long as you can get fibre at your location, Sky broadband is definitely worth checking out!