You know, I was about to recommend Be internet (I've had them for years without problems) but I had a look for reviews to provide some evidence for my recommendation and instead I see people with the same problems you had with Sky.

Seems you can have the same problems with all companies; it's just luck of the draw. Depends on who you speak to, the quality of the line, where you are in relation to the exchange etc...

If anyone is considering Sky Broadband - all I wish to say is "RUN!!!!!!" as far away as you can from Sky. Their wireless broadband is truly crap. The signal is lost every 3 - 4 minutes and then takes forever to search for it again, reconnect for 3 minutes and then go through the whole process again. I am now sitting with a wire connected to the modem in order to send this message.

And another huge note of caution for their Sky+HD service - I just had it installed yesterday (yes, very stupid of me but this was their offer when I called to complain about my existing Sky box) and now I lose my signal on Sky TV every time I change channels! The box needs to be unplugged and re-plugged each time I change channels. The engineer that 'installed' the box simply connected the wires and ran like his pants were on fire. So now I am worse off having 'upgraded' the box. The tech people on the phone acknowledge that my box could be faulty but the engineer can only be booked for 3 weeks later.

I am jumping ship immediately - have already got my MAC for switching the broadband service.

Had my O2 broadband activated today (within four days everything sorted).

I will never advise anybody to even considering Sky after going through horribly slow service and non existent technical support. I also read very bad reviews about Sky technicians in some of the forum threads. They even set the status of my support call to resolved without resolving it or even contacting me. Seems Sky are in a mess everywhere.

My O2 experience was good, got a much better deal at cheaper price with quick and fast service. did not have to make any phone calls or chase support, ordered online, selected the delivery date via text messages. I was very well informed and updated of my order statuses via emails and text messages.

I will update my experience in all forum threads that I opened while I was listening music from Sky.

I think all ISPs have problems. We originally had a similar problem with Virgin Media, dispite signing us up and sending thru a broadband router they decided 2 months later they were unable to provide broadband to us. It cost me £170 in the end to cancel a service I had never received! Switched over to Sky and haven't had any problems.

I applied with O2 on Monday (01/08/2011) after cancelling sky and had my SAME phone line started working on Wednesday (03/08/2011) (2 days, where sky gave me a date of 15 days plus 8 days of chasing support and not getting anywhere), now waiting for my broadband to get activated in couple of days.

So far O2 is been really fast and I really liked the way they using their text messages to keep me updated with my order. I was even able to arrange more suitable delivery date by just replying to the text message.

i called them and sent emails.

i have cancelled my subscription and moving to a different provider.

strangely their cancellation staff/department seemed to be much more prompt and helpful then their installation and technical staff.

i am told that I will get full refund as I never got any service.

It's worth putting details of what has (or has not) happened in writing to Sky to be sure that they have a record of the situation.

I moved into a new property and ordered sky broadband and landline package on 7th July. A BT line already existed at property so I was told I will have everything activated on 22nd. I installed router and phone on 22 and tested but there was no service so I decided to wait and kept testing for 2 days. Contacted Sky Support on 25 July and 27 (Which cost me by the way) and was told an Sky technical will contact me.

Today its 31st and no body has bothered to contact or even update. I have recieved letters and emails from SKy telling me that I will be charged for the service that I have not received.

Just thought to share my sky experience in the forums where I read negative reviews and still decided to give it a try.

Next Step: Cancel and try 02 may be.