Is The Grass Really Any Greener?

[sinner]

I know we all have issues with Karoo and I don't have experience of any other ISP apart from AOHell but I do often wonder if other ISP's don't suffer from the same issues Karoo does. They all seem to have the dreaded fair use policy in place.

Before this gets into a slanging match, I don't care for Karoo that much I think a lot of what they do is crazy.

Just wondered what others thought?

[miken]

Im 100% sure all other isp's have similar problems, however if company A had a problem which ment they where losing customers they would sort it so the customers wouldnt leave.

With karoo they can leave a problem for as long as they want, such as recently overloaded hardware because we cant go anywhere else they have a captive audience.

[stormy]

Plus out of all the ISPs in BT land, if you don't like something you leave and find another ISP. In KC land, there is no choice.

[Fastethernet]

Good point there are many other ISP's who perform very badly, having said that there are also some which are excellent. As the other lads stated it is simply an issue of choice. Karoo have no impetus to improve if there is no competition, why reduce prices when there is no where else to go, why offer SDSL when it would compete with their own more expensive products. Karoo simply fall into the category of a bad ISP. The fair use policy may not be unusual but the traffic management system is very poor indeed and only seems to benefit Karoo in reducing their internet pipe costs.

[dylan]

Check out the graph on this page http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php

I think it says it all 

[sinner]

I take all the above points on board but would suggest the following. I agree they have a captive audience and I doubt that this will change in the near future but I venture the following

1: By offering more services i.e. SDLS (Whatever that it, sorry not a techie) they could charge a premium and hence generate more revenue, which could be put back into infrastructure for more suggestions see point 2

2: Not everyone in Dull (sorry Hull) has broadband because it is still a little too expensive, if they provided more services the revenue generated could used to reduce the price even further of the base packages, once people get a taste they may/could want more. 

3: Karoo at the end of the day is a business and I am sure they realise they have a finite market, like we can't change ISP they can't broaden there horizons because then they are playing with the big boys and I doubt they could compete because they would have to pay line subscriptions which i think they could ill afford.

comments- suggestions?

[Fastethernet]

Hi Sinner,

KCOM won't be selling SDSL (symmetric DSL 2Mbit up, 2Mbit down) ever as it would compete with their very expensive opti-switch platform.

The broadband price is relatively low (not to say that it's value for money), some of the low take up is due to certain demographic factors. I think KCOM really need to start trimming some of the chiefs and get some more indians.

KCOM do operate in BT land under the guise of Eclipse and compete with all the big boys too. One of their other subsidiaries Affinity is doing rather well in the open market also.

I would suggest Ofcom should force BT to offer services within Hull allowing residents a real choice and maybe KCOM would improve. A business would only spend it's profits on improvements if it's customers could buy their product from elsewhere, otherwise why waste their money, let the CEO and top brass have that big bonus.

[Adrian]

Eclipse are just as bad going on what people in the Eclipse forum on ADSLguide are saying... people leaving in droves!

True, we won't see SDSL as they like to sell their expensive leased lines in Hull and East Yorkshire... and SDSL would end that.

Affiniti is different from a standard ISP though, therefore is doing well as there is a market for the services it provides, not just internet and connectivity...

I'm not so sure about forcing BT or anyone else for that matter into supplying in the area, as the geographic locations of all the exchanges and wiring around Hull is too dense, therefore would be great hassle involved as BT only have one exchange in Hull (as far as I know) and it would be very messy for them - However I could see BT been easily able to supply customers such as myself on the Civic exchange in the town centre with services as the BT exchange is literally next door - Like KC suppling in East Yorkshire but on a bigger scale. This may give them access to a viable userbase consisting of residential and business users.

sparse..wtf... changed

[Fastethernet]

Well in my opinion the regulator should force BT to sell services across Hull to brake up the monopoly, if not then why would BT change it's current outlook on Hull?

BT should also run fibre to all KCOM's exchanges and unbundle the local loop allowing residents and businesses a wider choice since most other ISP's will only sell broadband packages on BT lines. I wonder how long it would take for KCOM to welcome other ISP's selling broadband over their network......

[Switchace]

wonder how long it would take for KCOM to welcome other ISP's selling broadband over their network......

When pigs fly. The current status quo is just far too good to give up.

Karoo will milk the residents of Hull until their last breath, and that's the sad fact.