Sky installation: Here's what you need to know

Dan Howdle • February 19th, 2025

If you’re thinking of joining Sky either for TV or broadband, it’s a good idea to know ahead of time what the process is, what it involves and how long you’re likely to wait. We have all the info right here.

Picking out a new broadband or TV deal is easy thanks to BestBroadbandDeals.co.uk's comparison tools, but it's only the first part of the process. Getting new services up and running in your home requires the installation of hardware in the form of a router and a set-top box.

Every broadband and TV provider does things differently and Sky has always stood out from the crowd thanks to the sheer breadth and scale of its offering. You can no longer get Sky Q (satellite TV), which is a blessing when it comes to installation. Sky Stream delivers a full-throated Sky TV service over the internet, and you can be up and running the next day! In this guide we'll take a look at the installation process, whether you're going for broadband only, TV only or both broadband and TV.

Sky Broadband installation

Sky, like most broadband providers in the UK, uses the Openreach broadband network to provide its services. The upshot of this is that if you are switching to Sky from another provider on the Openreach network (this is pretty much everyone apart from Virgin Media) then you already have the right cables running to your property in many cases. However, if you're currently on a Standard Fibre package and are upgrading to Full Fibre you will need a new line installed, which takes a bit more work but won't increase the installation time in most cases.

If you don't already have an Openreach telephone line running to your property at all, Sky will arrange this to happen for you. It will require an engineer to visit, but they will try to get things up and running from outside your home wherever possible. In this kind of situation, you can expect installation to take at least three weeks instead of the normal two. But honestly there are only a handful of homes in the UK that don't already have a phone line installed.

Routers

With the phasing out of the Sky Q Hub, Sky broadband now offers two updated options: the Sky Broadband Hub and the new Sky Max Hub. The Sky Broadband Hub, suitable for any Sky broadband package, boasts gigabit speed capability, supports up to 64 devices, and includes dual-band Wi-Fi along with four Ethernet ports for extensive cabled connectivity. Its eight Wi-Fi antennae ensure a strong signal.

For those looking for something a bit meatier, the Sky Max Hub is available either as standard with Sky's top speed package, or through an added subscription to Sky Wi-Fi Max. This premium option is designed to provide higher speeds and support more devices.

Setting up Sky broadband is straightforward. Whether you choose the Sky Broadband Hub or opt for the Sky Max Hub, the process simply involves connecting the router to the mains and your broadband socket. Sswitch on the router, wait for initialisation, and once the power, internet, and Wi-Fi lights turn green, you're done.

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Sky broadband and TV installation

You can get Sky TV either with broadband or on its own, and these days you won't need a satellite dish either because Sky Stream is the only game in town. You can be up and running the next day after signing up (if you order it on its own, otherwise your start date will be in two weeks, same as your broadband).

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Sky TV installation

You can order Sky TV without taking broadband from Sky, but you will need a broadband connection (from any provider you like) if you want to make the most of all the features Sky TV has to offer. You no longer need a satellite dish installed on a south-facing wall of your house, be cause satellite TV is now kaput.

Up until fairly recently, this guide was rather more in-depth. But since Sky TV has become plug and play – an installation process so simple a moderately clever collie could manage it – we've cut out quite a bit. Honestly, we're glad to see the back of satellite TV.

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