Broadband Guide

Broadband in Hull

Article updated: Friday 4 March, 2011

By Garnet Roach - garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you live in the Hull area then your broadband is probably supplied by KC - though new alternatives are starting to enter the market.

There are more than 30 different broadband providers offering internet services in the UK. But the area of Hull is an exception to the broadband market, lacking the competition and the deals enjoyed by customers with access to the BT broadband (www.BT.com) or Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com) networks.

Why is the broadband market different in Hull?

Hull Corporation, which eventually became broadband and phone provider KC, opened its first telephone exchange in the Kingston-upon-Hull way back in 1904.

It was one of many municipal phone companies operating across the UK at the time - all of which were gradually absorbed into the Post Office Telephone group, which subsequently became BT.

But the Hull area was the one exception, becoming the only telecoms monopoly in the country. However, the last few years have seen a few changes in the area, with a new provider entering the market and regulator Ofcom giving the go-ahead for KC to offer broadband and phone bundles.

KC

KC is the biggest telecoms provider in Hull, and for many people it is also the only option if you want to get online.

The supplier offers six different Karoo broadband packages, all with speeds of up to 24Mb broadband in upgraded areas, and a choice of different download allowances ranging from 5GB up to a massive 150GB a month.

In October 2010, Ofcom decided to allow KC to offer bundles to give consumers in the Hull area better value for money. So you can now save money by taking your broadband and home phone from KC. Some of its bundles also include a mobile broadband dongle from O2 (www.O2.co.uk) - allowing you to go online at home and on the move.

Sure Broadband

A relatively new entry to the market, Sure Broadband launched in 2008 and is an alternative in the Hull area. It uses wireless technology to offer a variety of different packages with speeds of up to 24Mb direct to your home without the need for a landline.

Because of the technology it uses, Sure Broadband is able to bypass the KC network.

Home broadband users have the choice of either a six or 12-month contract - a pay-as-you-go option. All packages come with “unlimited broadband” subject to a fair usage policy - though you will have to pay a one-off fee of £50 to get connected.

Mobile broadband

A mobile broadband dongle that uses the mobile phone network to get you online - without the need for a landline - is another good alternative to KC, especially if your area isn’t yet covered by Sure Broadband.

There are loads of pay-as-you-go and one-month contracts available, so you don’t need to sign a long contract. However, there are still a number of things that you need to know before you choose a mobile broadband package:

• Broadband speeds - average mobile broadband speeds are little more than 1Mb so bear this in mind if you need a fast connection
• Download allowances - are also usually far lower than home broadband connections, typically offering around 3GB or 5GB a month. But if you do need more data, Three (www.Three.co.uk) offers a 15GB allowance on a contract
• Coverage - before you sign-up to any mobile broadband provider, carry out a postcode check to make sure you'll get good enough coverage where you live and work.