Kcom to rollout superfast broadband

[bobthebuilder]

Kcom will today brief analysts on its activities in Hull, including plans for the rollout of superfast, fibre-based broadband.

The telecommunications company said it had won new contracts since its last update in May, including becoming the provider of the Dorset Public Sector Network.

In a trading update released this morning, the group said trading was "in line with expectations".

The statement has been released ahead of Kcom's Annual General Meeting on Friday.

[miken]

Full statement on http://www.kcomplc.com/media-centre/news-2011/news-20-07-11-1/

KCOM Group PLC (KCOM.L) AGM and Interim Management Statement

KCOM Group today announces its trading update for the period 1 April to 20 July, ahead of its Annual General Meeting on 22 July.

Also today, the company is holding a sell-side analyst update primarily on its KC brand activities in Hull and East Yorkshire. This will include information about our plans for deployment of fibre-based, superfast broadband in selected areas of its current market. The investment required for this deployment is included within existing cash flow and capital expenditure guidance.

The Board confirms that trading remains in line with market expectations, with continued strong cash generation.

Since the preliminary results announcement in May, Kcom has been confirmed as the provider of the Dorset Public Sector Network and we have seen incremental growth in the multi-year contracted order backlog, with further contract wins in the period.

A copy of the presentation given at today’s analyst event will be published on the Group’s website, www.kcomplc.com, at midday today.

May be interesting to read the presentation later

[GarethG]

This sounds promising, am I right in thinking superfast broadband is defined as >24MB connection?

Do you think they have only just decided to go ahead with this major network upgrade because of the recent wireless companies taking alot of their core market? Or did they have this planned from a long time ago, which begs the question, why keep it secret for all this time if there isn't any real competition for fibre connections in this area?

My fear is that this may be just smoke signals for the upgrades they have already been installing (FTTC) in their selected areas, i.e. the surrounding Hull areas with no sign of central Hull or FTTH. FTTC is more than sufficient in most cases of internet usage for what is available. But the problem with the KC FTTC is the last mile of insufficient copper to the house which will still degrade the connection somewhat considerably.

I also heared that KC do not install DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) at remote locations/cabinet boxes. If this is true it will be another reason why the KC network is currently not as good as other market networks. This basicly means their effective range is further limited and the connection isn't as fast as it could be. Look here if you wish to know more about DSLAM.

Looking forward to the update slated for mid-day here

[stormy]

Can anyone find the link to the presentation? I don't see it....

[Project Novo]

I wouldnt get too excited

This is to do with KCOM (Not KC) reselling BT's FTTC services OUTSIDE Hull and to do with their agreement with BT Wholesale which means that they only use BT services to connect customers outside Hull.

   

[TJ]

This sounds promising, am I right in thinking superfast broadband is defined as >24MB connection?

Depends who you ask, definition seems to vary.




Do you think they have only just decided to go ahead with this major network upgrade because of the recent wireless companies taking alot of their core market?

Considering that the recent wireless companies are not taking a lot of their core market....the answer to this would be no




Or did they have this planned from a long time ago, which begs the question, why keep it secret for all this time if there isn't any real competition for fibre connections in this area?

Not aware that there was any secret, been on the cards for years......you would have been asking the same question whenever this news was released




My fear is that this may be just smoke signals for the upgrades they have already been installing (FTTC)

Its mainly FTTH they are talking about




I also heared that KC do not install DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) at remote locations/cabinet boxes.

You heard wrong, how do you think FTTC works ?

[TJ]

I wouldnt get too excited

This is to do with KCOM (Not KC) reselling BT's FTTC services OUTSIDE Hull and to do with their agreement with BT Wholesale which means that they only use BT services to connect customers outside Hull.

I assume that this quote is just a misunderstanding and not being deliberately misleading.

Its FTTH in Hull they are talking about.

[stormy]

Its FTTH in Hull they are talking about.

Is that in the presentation I cannot find from 'midday'?

[miken]

Found it http://www.kcomplc.com/docs/content-pdf/kc-investor-day-presentation.pdf

Edit: -----------------------

Couple of quotes,

Karoo broadband connections show YonY growth of 3% to 90k customers in FY11

KC announce deployment of a fibre network

•Recent investments in our core network position us well to meet future growth in internet demands.
•The next stage in our programme to upgrade our network is to provide the capability to deliver super-fast broadband, using fibre technologies
•Over the next 18 months, we plan to undertake an initial deployment across specific areas of our Hull and East Yorkshire network, passing 15,000 homes
•Mixed fibre solutions will be deployed
•The total investment over FY2011/12 and FY 2012/13, is within the previously announced capital expenditure guidance
•Progress in deploying the network and connecting customers will be shared at the next results presentation (November 2011)
•Further investment beyond this initial deployment is dependent on a favourable commercial outcome

[Adrian]

I wouldnt get too excited

This is to do with KCOM (Not KC) reselling BT's FTTC services OUTSIDE Hull and to do with their agreement with BT Wholesale which means that they only use BT services to connect customers outside Hull.

It is also to do with KC putting FTTC cabinets in starting with the so called not-spots which they have already started to do any many of them are active, such as Priory Park, parts of Kingswood and Holderness Road, along with all the village cabinets upgraded.

[grabo1530]

I wouldnt get too excited

This is to do with KCOM (Not KC) reselling BT's FTTC services OUTSIDE Hull and to do with their agreement with BT Wholesale which means that they only use BT services to connect customers outside Hull.

It is also to do with KC putting FTTC cabinets in starting with the so called not-spots which they have already started to do any many of them are active, such as Priory Park, parts of Kingswood and Holderness Road, along with all the village cabinets upgraded.

Holderness road .....no real improvement for me or the rest,of the street absolutely fine up to peak times then buffering ,low connection just the same  same as .....   must have been that long planning an upgrade it was out dated by the time it was actually done .

[Djwindas]

this is all a load of bull crap and we all know it!

[stormy]

Holderness road .....no real improvement for me or the rest,of the street absolutely fine up to peak times then buffering ,low connection just the same  same as .....   must have been that long planning an upgrade it was out dated by the time it was actually done .

But thats the same for me in Brough tbh, offpeak, 8Mb/s solid speed, download at the max line speed of 8128kbps. Come 7ish, buffer, buffer, buffer, cant use 720p youtube etc unless I let it download first, offpeak its fine. peak it never has been. But then I just assume thats ADSL1 getting throttled to hell and back to force me to move to ADSL2+.

Edit: well that presentation give hardly any new info on this 'superfast broadband' roll out. LOL

[TJ]

What with the negative vibes.....

100Mb/s fibre to the home isn't this what everyone wants ?

[richardmyers]

What with the negative vibes.....

100Mb/s fibre to the home isn't this what everyone wants ?

To 15000 homes, barely scratches the surface in Hull.