Sky Mobile launches in UK

Sky has officially entered the UK mobile market to become the first provider to allow customers to keep unused personal data for up to three years.

From £10 per month, mobile customers will be able to store data in an online ‘piggybank’ which they can use any any time, meaning they will not lose data they have paid for.

They will also be allowed to change their plan each month, while Sky TV customers will get free UK calls and texts with any Sky Mobile Plan – plus the ability to sync their device with their Sky+ box.

“Right now mobile contracts are inflexible and confusing and we all know people are buying more data than they need to avoid those extra charges,” said Stephen van Rooyen, UK and Ireland chief executive.

“With Sky Mobile we’ve provided the solution, offering flexibility and great value so our customers’ unused data will be theirs to keep and they can create a plan that’s right for them, month to month.”

The launch comes as new data, commissioned by Sky Mobile, reveals that almost 20 million smartphone users in the UK are deliberately buying more data than they actually need each month for fear of being overcharged.

Almost three quarters (72%) of those buying unnecessary data end up losing around 1GB of their allowance every month – the equivalent of losing out on downloading 200 songs or 500 photos; browsing 10,000 websites or watching two hours of video.

Meanwhile, one in five (21%) said they have “no idea” how much data they have left at the end of each month.