Cloud Gaming UK Broadband ISP ZYBRE to Launch New TV Box - ISPreview UK

2022-05-14 09:52:42 By : Ms. Jodie Xu

Cloud gaming ISP ZYBRE, which is available to broadband customers across both FTTC (VDSL2) and FTTP networks from various operators (e.g. Openreach), has confirmed to ISPreview.co.uk that it plans to launch a new multi-play home entertainment platform this summer via their new ‘One Box‘ TV set-top-box (STB) device.

During its original launch, ZYBRE attempted to set itself apart from the market by bundling in cloud video gaming solutions, such as NVIDIA’s SHIELD TV Pro and GeForce NOW game streaming service. Not to mention various VoIP phone and mobile SIM options for calling etc. The provider has also developed its own cloud-gaming platform (ZYBRE Games), which was initially available via the same NVIDIA kit.

However, the provider has long talked about adding a ZYBRE TV service to their existing list of included features, which would allow access to live premium channels and more. More recently, ZYBRE has also hired the former CTO of Dentsu International and ITV, Paul Dale, to take up the same role in their ISP and to help prepare for the launch of a new multi-play home entertainment platform.

At the centre of this new platform, which brings together cloud gaming, TV and gigabit broadband, is ZYBRE’s new One Box STB device. The new kit will replace the previous NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro and supports most cloud gaming apps (e.g. GeForce Now, Stadia, Antstream Arcade and Boosteroid). ZYBRE Games will also be fully integrated, offering 300+ games including Fortnite.

The STB is essentially a customised Android TV box and will be powered by Amlogic’s S905X4 Quad Core processor – complete with 3GB (GigaBytes) of RAM and 16GB of ROM memory. As for data storage, the SD card slot will support up to 1TB (TeraByte). The ISP informs us that this box will also support Wi-Fi 6, HDR (HDR10) video quality, Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ll also be able to plug in a game controller, naturally.

In terms of that customisation, ZYBRE appears to be creating one of the UK’s first Google certified Android TV Operator Tier devices, which allows TV operators to launch a custom STB based on the Android TV operating system (OS). This gives them access to Google’s platform (e.g. Google Play Store and Google Assistant), while also permitting a custom operator-designed User Interface (UI). Creating such a thing is no mean feat (we originally expected TalkTalk to do this, before they opted to go down the Netgem TV route instead).

Example of the ZYBRE One Box UI (Development Preview Image)

The ISP informed us that the new box will allow users to browse aggregated content from all the major streaming platforms (e.g. Apple TV, Disney+, Amazon (Prime), Netflix, YouTube etc.), gaming apps (as above) and FAST channels. ZYBRE aim to release 200+ FAST channels (similar to Samsung Channels and LG Channels), with a full list due to be announced soon.

For those unfamiliar, FAST channels reflect a white-label platform that helps to enable the global distribution of Over-The-Top (OTT) content (i.e. streaming live TV without the subscription, albeit ad-supported). Essentially, this enables traditional linear TV channels to be streamed via internet-connected devices (e.g. roughly similar to how NOW TV works with Sky’s channels).

The new box and service are expected to go live this summer, with further details on the packages, channels and prices due to be announced soon.

We note that ZYBRE have stopped offering packages via KCOM’s full fibre network, but they will shortly be available via several more networks other than Openreach, including MS3 (imminent), CityFibre (summer) and F&W (next month). More details on those will follow in the near future.

I’m really impressed for such a small ISP. They also have the cheapest 1gbps package at £45pm

Whose network do they resell? They don’t appear to operate their own IP space… (if they do operate their own IP space, please could someone share one of their prefixes?)

See the article – Openreach now, with MS3, CityFibre and F&W to follow.

That’s the wholesale network, He’s asking if they have their own ASN.

Good question. I’ve got nothing.

carl@librenms:~$ dig -t ANY zybre.co.uk +noall +answer zybre.co.uk. 43200 IN NS ns2.siteground.net. zybre.co.uk. 3600 IN TXT “v=spf1 include:_spf.mailersend.net include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all” zybre.co.uk. 3600 IN TXT ” google-site-verification=PTh5ObIUYTApwwBlDqJX0ZGZ-T8TjrARVZbsYmfXtY8″ zybre.co.uk. 3600 IN MX 0 zybre-co-uk.mail.protection.outlook.com. zybre.co.uk. 3600 IN TXT “v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all” zybre.co.uk. 14400 IN SOA ns1.siteground.net. root.siteground.net. 100356 86400 7200 3600000 86400zybre.co.uk. 3600 IN TXT “facebook-domain-verification=4345wiqlkbhavtdf9eqnk9jpcq8j3a” zybre.co.uk. 43200 IN NS ns1.siteground.net. zybre.co.uk. 43200 IN A 35.214.108.4

On their about us page (https://www.zybre.co.uk/about-us/) they list KCOM and Vodafone as their partners (and some other not relevant ones). As part of the KCOM announcement they mentioned wholesale services from KCOM, so from what I understand I think its KCOM for backhaul on the KCOM access network and Vodafone for everywhere else.

> dig -t ANY zybre.co.uk +noall +answer

That doesn’t tell you anything – many providers host their website on a different network (in this case, it’s Google Cloud).

However, the RIPE database doesn’t have any entry matching “zybre”. The domain zybre.co.uk was only registered on 19 Jan 2021, and the company incorporated on 6 May 2021.

Almost certainly just a white-label reseller.

I have genuinely no idea how you went from that command and it’s output to that it would tell me nothing beyond that they don’t host their own website.

Do you think I did an nslookup on their website?

I was actually trying to find their authoritative name server to see if they run their own as that would hint at owning their own infrastructure.

They don’t. They have a hosting package with Siteground by the looks which takes care of all things zybre.co.uk via Siteground DNS with the hosting on GCP.

I suspect they’re white labelling TTB for broadband.

Ah no, someone has mentioned Vodafone which fits – a check on my exchange shows gigabit from TTB but 220 Mb from these guys and 220 Mb from Vodafone.

@CarlT how did you check your exchange to see that information?

I have FTTP available via Openreach, Peter. I just checked what Zybre had to offer. Everyone else is 500-1G leaving Vodafone as the only company to have GEA connectivity at lower.

they don’t even have their own infrastructure what kind of ISP is this. No wonder it’s UK. Bt leftovers nothing else.

Not every ISP has its own core network.

Sky dont have their own infrastructure. Having your own servers and unbundling exchanges isn’t the best route to market.

Seems ZYBRE have chosen their carrier relationships carefully. Vodafone unlike others already have excellent peering relationships and are global tier 1 carrier. Arguably you could say ZYBRE is more robust as a result. (Reference to recent article on Vodafone’s FTTP network)

Also this appears to be more than just a ‘reseller’ venture. As the article suggests launching a TV platform is no easy task. The smart move would be to piggy back other carrier partners and offer more than internet.

Sadly not available yet in my postcode but eagerly awaiting.

‘Sky dont have their own infrastructure.’

Yikes. Whose infrastructure were we building when we were installing state of the art routers into formerly Easynet datacentres connected via formerly FibreWay optical network?

If you’re affiliated with them please do be more open. I think it’s a pretty innovative way to go, focusing on OTT rather than the ISP-side. Kudos to the guys that came up with this. I suspect the broadband is priced very competitively with the hope of some TV revenue to pad it out.

If you are affiliated with this then well done and all the best.

Package Charges (ZVTN001) Our Pricing varies depending on the speed and availability of the network to the premises. All Packages offer unlimited data. Packages are offered on various available speeds and across selected terms ZYBRE Broadband only (ZVTN001) prices Product Bandwidth Speed (up to) Term Price per month Setup/Activation Fee Broadband Only 1000Mbps Download 115Mbps Upload 24 Months £45.00 £30.00 12 Months £47.00 1 Month Rolling £53.00 £60.00 550Mbps Download 75Mbps Upload 24 Months £40.00 £30.00 12 Months £42.00 1 Month Rolling £46.00 £60.00 220Mbps Download 30Mbps Upload 24 Months £35.00 £30.00 12 Months £37.00 1 Month Rolling £41.00 £60.00 80Mbps Download 20Mbps Upload 24 Months £30.00 £30.00 12 Months £32.00 1 Month Rolling £36.00 £60.00 55Mbps Download 10Mbps Upload 24 Months £29.00 £30.00 12 Months £31.00 1 Month Rolling £35.00 £60.00 *On completion of 12- & 24-Month Terms, the plan will move to 1 Month Rolling at the detailed price, unless a new 12- or 24-month plan is agreed to.

ZYBRE LIMITED is a Private Limited Company registered in place of ENGLAND, United Kingdom. Company status is Active. It’s registered office is 20-22 WENLOCK ROAD, , LONDON, , ENGLAND, N1 7GU. Company is working in area of 61100 – Wired telecommunications activities, , , . Total numbers of limited partners are 0 and General Partners 0. Company Date of Incorporation is 06-05-2021.

Company Accounting Reference Day 31 of month 5. Company Account Category is NO ACCOUNTS FILED. Company account Last Madeup Date and Next Due Date 06-02-2023

This is a very promising box, and I wonder if you need to take their broadband to get this or if you can get it without. Only other downside would be not having Dolby Vision is kind of a deal breaker for me.

I think HDR10 is the same as Dolby vision one is just open source.

Only seems to offer me Fibre 80 or Fibre 1000. Would have liked a few lower speed packages as Fibre 1000 is a bit overkill for me.

Well they do offer Fibre 80 if you want lower than Fibre 1000

I’m currently on the same fibre speed with BT so would be a bit pointless changing. Just find it odd why they don’t offer any in-between speeds like 200 or 500 as it seems kind of all or nothing to me. If they had an in-between speed I’d probably jump ship to them.

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