Editing KCOM Group (section)

==Monopoly concerns==
[[File:Hull KCOM street furniture.jpg|upright|thumb|KCOM broadband cabinet]]
As residents and most businesses in Hull are served only with telecoms services by KCOM, there have been complaints around Internet service provision; KCOM's [[Karoo ISP|broadband]] service is the only fixed-line residential broadband operator in the Hull area. According to a decision from the European Commission in 2004, KCOM Group held a 100% market share in the wholesale market of broadband services in the Hull area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/infso/ecctf/library?l=%2Fuk%2Fregisteredsnotifications%2Fuk20030032%2Fsgsgreffes2004sds200485p%2F_EN_1.0_&a=d |title=Letter from the European Commission |access-date=11 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802231128/http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/infso/ecctf/library?l=%2Fuk%2Fregisteredsnotifications%2Fuk20030032%2Fsgsgreffes2004sds200485p%2F_EN_1.0_&a=d |archive-date=2 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In December 2005, Giacom, the owner of Hull24&nbsp;– a rival broadband provider in the Hull area&nbsp;– complained to [[Ofcom]] regarding the provision of network access to KC's rivals.<ref name="cw878">{{cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/bulletins/comp_bull_index/comp_bull_ccases/closed_all/cw_878/|title=Giacom complaint against Kingston Communications about failure to provide Wholesale ADSL access|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=6 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031530/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/bulletins/comp_bull_index/comp_bull_ccases/closed_all/cw_878/|archive-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The complaint was that "Giacom alleges that Kingston is not providing [network] access on reasonable terms as Kingston's pricing is anti-competitive and prohibitive to service providers [other than KC]". In April 2006 Giacom and KC resumed negotiations on a deal to allow Hull24 to use KC's network; as a result Giacom withdrew its complaint and Ofcom closed the case.<ref name="cw878" />

In August 2007 the alleged-monopoly of KC was referred to the [[European Commission]] by [[Diana Wallis]], [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] for [[Yorkshire and the Humber (European Parliament constituency)|Yorkshire and Humber]] area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/08/24/2884702.htm|title=Euro commission informed of KC's monopoly|website=www.tmcnet.com|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

In May 2008 the "Review of the wholesale broadband access markets"<ref name="reviewofBB">{{cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/wbamr07/statement/statement.pdf|title=Review of the wholesale broadband access markets – Final explanatory statement and notification|access-date=6 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202203455/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/wbamr07/statement/statement.pdf|archive-date=2 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> report published by [[Ofcom]] determined that KC was ''not'' acting in a way that would keep out rival companies, and that pricing for wholesale broadband and access to [[local-loop unbundling]] was within the market range. The main reason cited by rivals for not providing services in the Hull area was rather one of overall cost-effectiveness, given the relatively small number of potential customers (190,000 homes), and the fact that many of these would be likely to remain with the incumbent supplier.<ref name="KCOMcleared">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Kcom-cleared-keeping-rival-broadband-companies/article-193652-detail/article.html|title=Kcom cleared of keeping out rivals|work=This is Hull and East Riding|access-date=6 August 2019|archive-date=1 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801083045/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Kcom-cleared-keeping-rival-broadband-companies/article-193652-detail/article.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In July 2009, Nexus Telecoms signed an agreement with KC enabling them to offer effective wholesale line rental and call tariffs to business consumers within the Hull area so giving them a choice of service provider.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nexusuk.com/?page=newssingle&itemid=18|title=Nexus can now offer an alternative to Kingston for calls and lines in Hull|date=30 July 2009|publisher=Nexus Telecommunications Ltd|access-date=3 October 2009}}</ref> As Nexus only provide broadband service to businesses, several other providers offering wireless Internet access via Wi-Fi and licensed radio links have set up and have taken some of KC's customers including Pure Broadband and Nextgenus (which was ultimately purchased from administration by Connexin) both are local independent companies.

In September and October 2023, KCOM were embroiled in controversy when rivals started to erect wooden [[Utility pole|telegraph poles]] to carry their services into residential neighbourhoods, causing residents' protests. Local planning consent was not required under "permitted development rights". 

Reporting on MP [[Emma Hardy]]'s approach to Sir [[John Whittingdale]], the minister for data and digital infrastructure, the BBC confirmed that "Under [[Ofcom]] rules, KCOM – as the area's dominant telecom provider – is required to share its infrastructure". Rival [[MS3 Networks]] commented that KCOM had historically failed to respond in a timely manner to requests to share their existing underground infrastructure. Communications provider [[Connexin (communications)]] had some local facilities, but had requested Ofcom to provide "clarity on pricing and access" to KCOM's infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-66745042 |title=Protest in Hedon over plans to erect broadband poles in town |website=[[BBC News]] |date=7 September 2023 |accessdate=19 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67122463 |title=Broadband poles row: Emma Hardy MP seeks more powers for Ofcom |website=[[BBC News]] |date=16 October 2023 |accessdate=19 October 2023}}</ref>

In early 2024, after intervention by [[Graham Stuart (politician)|Graham Stuart MP]] conferencing Connexin with local politicians from [[Beverley]], [[East Riding of Yorkshire|East Riding]], Connexin started formal complaints with Ofcom against KCOM for failing to allow sharing of KCOM'S underground cabling infrastructure, causing Connexin to erect their own above-ground network.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-68006644 |title=East Yorkshire MPs meet broadband bosses about telephone poles |work=BBC News |date=17 January 2024 |accessdate=9 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grahamstuart.com/news/graham-ensures-beverley-and-molescroft-councillors-have-their-say-telegraph-poles |title=Graham ensures Beverley and Molescroft councillors have their say on telegraph poles |work=www.grahamstuart.com |date=18 January 2024|accessdate=9 February 2024}}</ref>