Is sky phasing out the use of satellite dishes and going exclusively to television through broadband

[Dobber1234]

hi my name is Derek [content removed] and I have been a sky customer since 2006. I love sky Q since it's launch in 2016. I think it's brilliant however I have heard recently that by 2028 sky is phasing out the use of all satellite dishes which means I will have to rely exclusively on my Internet connection to watch TV by four years time. According to what I read online recently with this is true by 2028. I intend to switch from sky and get a different TV provider because I prefer the use of a satellite dish to get my television through as my Internet can be quite unreliable,. Does anyone else have the same feelings as me in that they love sky television but are concerned about the switch off of all satellite dishes I realise it's four years away at least but it is something that I am concerned about I don't think personally that this is something that sky should go through with can anyone give me your opinion please? And are the rumours that I have read true and in fact will sky Q itself be phased out completely eventually I hope not

Moderator note: personally identifiable information removed

[oldfella]

Hi  @Dobber1234 

Not so much that Sky is phasing out satellite dishes but purely the fact that all the Astra Satellites are reaching the end of their life and are highly unlikely to be replaced.

[xenon81]

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@oldfella wrote:

Hi  @Dobber1234 

Not so much that Sky is phasing out satellite dishes but purely the fact that all the Astra Satellites are reaching the end of their life and are highly unlikely to be replaced.

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SES have ordered new Astra satellites for 19.2e with Astra 1P and 1Q on the way. There are however no new satellites planned for 28.2e (Sky).

[nigea99]

Hi @Dobber1234 

As the others have said the Satellites used for the UK and Ireland are reaching their end of life and it just isn't really financially viable for new ones to be launched for this market.

SKY is already moving to Internet provided services and most customers should hopefully have access to suitable Internet provision by the time the Satellites are no longer viable.

European coverage is a much bigger market with many different TV providers and possibly less likely to have the Internet infrastructure coverage in place which is why it was probably more financially viable to launch new Satellites to be used at 19.2

[TimmyBGood]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

 I intend to switch from sky and get a different TV provider because I prefer the use of a satellite dish to get my television through as my Internet can be quite unreliable,

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Tricky to get a satellite television provider if there isn't a satellite to carry the channels you wish to view...

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

 I don't think personally that this is something that sky should go through with 

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Sky has never designed, manufactured, launched, owned or operated the satellites it uses, and so has little option but to make alternative arrangements before the current trio expend the last of their positioning propellant sometime around the turn of the decade.

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

 And are the rumours that I have read true and in fact will sky Q itself be phased out completely eventually I hope not

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I'd suggest Q being eight years old with no upgrade to 4K Mini boxes and a successor system (Sky Stream) already well in place is probably a clue.

[Gorn777]

Not a case of dropping Sky there will be no satellites at present when the old ones I guess stop working

[AnneF1]

We go away a lot in our touring caravan and use a Sky satellite dish, especially for Sky sports. What will happen when the satellite dies and apparently will not be replaced?

[nigea99]

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@AnneF1 wrote:

We go away a lot in our touring caravan and use a Sky satellite dish, especially for Sky sports. What will happen when the satellite dies and apparently will not be replaced?

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Unfortunately that is likely to be a problem area

(Although we should point out that using any SKY box away from the regiistered address is against T&Cs)

SKY Go on mobile devices is allowed - so hopefully 4G/5G coverage will have improved but unlikely to meet Satellite coverage

[AnneF1]

Thanks, not good news.

[TimmyBGood]

@AnneF1 

I'd note you are in breach of the Sky T&C's by doing so: the only legitimate service for such use is Sky Go.

[AnneF1]

Thanks, what's a stream puck?

[nigea99]

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@AnneF1 wrote:

Thanks, what's a stream puck?

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hi @AnneF1 

SKY Stream Pucks are the small boxes that now provide SKY via internet (Streaming)

BTW you can't mix Stream with a Satellite Subscription & the Stream boxes are subject to similar T&Cs (despite their apparent portability) 

[oldfella]

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@AnneF1 wrote:

Thanks, what's a stream puck?

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Hi @AnneF1 

See link

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-stream-faqs

[AnneF1]

Thanks, internet then.

[Mister_Dalek]

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@AnneF1 wrote:

Thanks, internet then.

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If you mainly have Sky for sports then you'd be much better off using the NOW TV streaming service which will give you all the Sky Sports channels via an app, either built into your TV or via something like a Firestick connected to your TV. You also then wouldn't be breaking any terms and conditions of a Sky Stream contract which can only be used in a fixed dwelling.