We've been around this carousel a few times now
The forum has been around for three or so years and did in the past push for responses from ISPs on why they wouldn't operate in the area. I'm sure noone would mind me reposting this selection from a hidden area of the forum for your interest. Hopefully some of them may have changed their minds! The power of social media eh!?
Be*
25th March, 2008Thank you for your interest in Be* and please excuse us for the delay in response.
Unfortunately there is no current plan for the Hull area to be unbundled.
Traditional unbundling is not possible in this area as Kingston telecom has the monopoly in this area so both IP stream connections and traditional LLU connections are not available.
Thank you for taking the time to email.
Please feel free to contact us again at any time if you have any questions or concerns.
EFH Broadband
26th April, 2008Even with the connections we have with Kingston we would not be able to
provide these services at this time.
Please accept my apologies for this inconvenience however we have looked
at this strategy in the past.
Zen Internet
7th April, 2008Let me first offer my apologies for failing to respond to your initial enquiry; I can only assume this was an oversight but will investigate further.
With regard to your enquiry; personally I was unaware that ISPs were allowed to provide services over the KCOM network upon demand. There is, however, a great deal to consider when undertaking such an opportunity. Considering Zen’s reputation as a quality ISP I would be concerned as to whether we could continue to deliver this level of service when entering into a new relationship with a new supplier.
I have forwarded your email to Zen Internet’s ADSL product manager for further review; who will escalate this internally if required. Once a decision has been made I will be in contact with you.
Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sky Internet
Posted March 2008Ref: ***/***
Dear ***
Customer Account Number: ***
Thanks for your email addressed to James Murdoch, which has been passed for my attention.
Firstly, I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy about the availability of Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in your area, and I welcome this opportunity to respond.
As you're aware, in order for us to provide either of these services the customer must first of all have a BT telephone line installed. I understand that currently the only telecommunication or broadband supplier in Hull is KCOM. The net result of this is that Sky is unable to expand its Sky Broadband network or enable customers to have Sky Talk in Hull.
Due to the restriction of BT's own network in Hull, this directly affects our own services. From what I understand the copper used by KCOM in their telephone lines is different from what BT use. Accordingly, this disparity creates a logistical issue for BT in their choice to move their network into Hull. As you can appreciate, Sky is unable to directly influence BT's commercial decision to increase their network.
In response to your comments that as we're unable to supply broadband or Sky Talk in Hull you believe your subscription should be proportionately reduced, unfortunately I'm unable to agree to this. Our Sky Broadband and Sky Talk services are funded by customers who pay for these services. I appreciate fully that you would like to take advantage of these services, but the availability is subject to customers having a BT telephone line.
We want all our customers to receive the best service possible and I'm sorry that I've been unable to provide a more favourable response. If I can be of any further assistance, please get back to me on the above email address.
Kind regards
******
Customer Relations
********************************************************************
Dear *****
Thank you for the correspondence.
I am a little confused about your response though. It was my understanding Sky would be offering their own local loop unbundled ADSL service, this process would involve the installation of Sky's own equipment within telephone exchanges. Surely Hull would be top priority for a trial of this service given that currently Sky cannot offer any telephone/ADSL services within this area?
Kind regards
***
*********************************************************************
Ref: ***/***
Dear ***
Customer Account Number: ***
Thanks for getting back to me.
In order for us to install our network equipment in an exchange there must the infrastructure to support this, which is not just limited to the installation of equipment in the exchange. As advised below, my understanding is that BT would have problems installing their telephony equipment due to the difference in copper wires used by KCOM and BT.
Furthermore, when we process a broadband order, we send the customer's details to BT. BT then go through a number of pre-order checks to confirm that the order can go ahead. For example, BT checks the telephone number is registered to the correct postcode, the MAC code (if one is used) is valid, that if it's a migration from one ISP to another that there isn't a cease pending on the line, etc.
The systems we use to process a broadband order communicates with BT's systems, whether for an ADSL or LLU order. This is one of the reasons why the terms and conditions of Sky Broadband is that the customer must have a BT landline. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem feasible for Sky to install our LLU network in a non-BT exchange due to the impact on the systems we use to put through a broadband order. We rely in BT for two aspects of providing broadband, the first is the exchange/engineering side of things, and the other is the systems used for ordering.
I'm sorry that it doesn't look as though we will be able to offer either our broadband or telephony services to you in Hull, however I'd like to thank you for taking the time and trouble to contact us.
Kind regards
*****
Customer Relations
