Latest news with #KCOM
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Broadband boss not expecting more masts after deal
The boss of a broadband company says he is not expecting more telegraph poles to be installed in East Yorkshire. Furqan Alamgir, chief executive of Connexin, spoke to the BBC after his business was acquired by CityFibre - one of the UK's largest network providers. He said: "We don't expect there to be more poles. CityFibre have traditionally been trench diggers but it will come down to what their build plans are in the future." Connexin has previously been urged by campaigners and MPs to share infrastructure with KCOM, which owns the majority of the area's underground network. Mr Alamgir said talks with KCOM about sharing its network infrastructure were "ongoing" and the acquisition by CityFibre would not stop it from "progressing". He said: "I'd hate to have poles outside my own house and it's silly how this has played out. "We've paused our builds over the last few months. We've been working with KCOM and had a lot of support from local politicians. "We'll be working to firm up agreements and we absolutely want to share infrastructure to build our network." However, residents in Beverley, East Yorkshire, who saw poles installed near the homes, said they are "worried" by the CityFibre-Connexin deal. Paul Brayford, from the Beverley and Molescroft Against Broadband Poles campaign group, said: "We're worried the streets where Connexin couldn't install poles will get them and the streets that did will now see fibre optic cables strung across. "It's really frustrating, we don't want clutter and it could get worse." Mr Alamgir said the agreement between Connexin and CityFibre would give households and businesses a wider range of options for internet services. He said: "Hull and East Yorkshire should have the same offering as any other place in the UK and we've always wanted to bring more choice to the area. "CityFibre have plans to reach 8m homes over the next couple of years and we'll be able to offer more services on the back of their investment. "It should bring more competition, improve speeds and driver better products. It's a really exciting deal." Under the deal, CityFibre will also take on the Connexin contract for Project Gigabit, a government scheme to roll out high-speed broadband to over 34,000 premises in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Call to speed up broadband infrastructure sharing Broadband firm pauses pole installations KCOM announces plan to end telegraph pole row MPs meet broadband CEOs about telephone poles Connexin CityFibre
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Connexin boss 'doesn't expect' more telegraph poles after CityFibre deal
The boss of a broadband company says he "doesn't expect" more telegraph poles to be installed in East Alamgir, chief executive of Connexin, spoke to the BBC after his business was acquired by CityFibre - one of the UK's largest network said: "We don't expect there to be more poles. CityFibre have traditionally been trench diggers but it will come down to what their build plans are in the future."Connexin has previously been urged by campaigners and MPs to share infrastructure with KCOM, which owns the majority of the area's underground network. Mr Alamgir said talks with KCOM about sharing its network infrastructure were "ongoing" and the acquisition by CityFibre would not stop it from "progressing".He said: "I'd hate to have poles outside my own house and it's silly how this has played out."We've paused our builds over the last few months. We've been working with KCOM and had a lot of support from local politicians. "We'll be working to firm up agreements and we absolutely want to share infrastructure to build our network."However, residents in Beverley, East Yorkshire, who saw poles installed near the homes, said they are "worried" by the CityFibre-Connexin Brayford, from the Beverley and Molescroft Against Broadband Poles campaign group, said: "We're worried the streets where Connexin couldn't install poles will get them and the streets that did will now see fibre optic cables strung across."It's really frustrating, we don't want clutter and it could get worse." 'More choice' Mr Alamgir said the agreement between Connexin and CityFibre would give households and businesses a wider range of options for internet said: "Hull and East Yorkshire should have the same offering as any other place in the UK and we've always wanted to bring more choice to the area."CityFibre have plans to reach 8m homes over the next couple of years and we'll be able to offer more services on the back of their investment."It should bring more competition, improve speeds and driver better products. It's a really exciting deal."Under the deal, CityFibre will also take on the Connexin contract for Project Gigabit, a government scheme to roll out high-speed broadband to over 34,000 premises in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
26-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Phone box 'library' shut down by telecoms firm KCOM
A community library housed in a village phone box is having to close because the telephone is still in set up the book swap scheme in Skidby, East Yorkshire, during the Covid lockdown in telecoms company KCOM has placed a sign in the box asking people not to put books on the shelves as it "poses a serious fire risk".Villager Kerry Almond said the library would be "missed" because it was a "nice way to get rid of books you've read and feel like you're putting a bit into the community". "It's just something to do for people. They can come out the house and have a walk down, choose a book and just get out into the fresh air," she added. The organisers said they would remove the books and were hoping to find a new home for them with the help of the parish said that because the phone box was active "we are regulatory obliged by Ofcom to make sure it is in working order in case anyone needs to make a call, including in 999 emergencies".The Hull-based firm is famed for its distinctive cream, rather than red, phone boxes. For decades, it was the only locally owned network to maintain its independence from the national operator that became BT.A spokesperson for KCOM added: "We are keen to work with the local community to see if there are other solutions to creating a book space."Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Call to speed up broadband infrastructure sharing
Broadband operators are being urged to speed up infrastructure sharing amid a backlash over the number of telegraph poles being put up. It comes as residents in parts of Hull and East Yorkshire campaign about the poles being put up near their homes. Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, has met telecoms minister Chris Bryant to discuss the issue. Bryant said "unnecessary telegraph poles" were not considerate to "anyone's way of life". Hardy, who met Bryant on Tuesday, told the BBC it had been "a really positive meeting", and there was agreement to encourage companies to start sharing infrastructure. Trials are taking place between KCOM and Connexin and between KCOM and MS3 involving shared telecommunications infrastructure. But Hardy said that while some progress was being made, it was "not as fast as I would like to see to stop more poles going up in the community". She added: "This is something that everyone in the area has been calling for from day one." Bryant said Hardy had "highlighted the urgent need for consideration and community discussion when it comes to building new infrastructure", and added: "I continue to urge telecoms companies to do everything they can to share pre-existing infrastructure before building new poles." A spokesperson for KCOM said: "Good progress has been made with MS3 and Connexin and preparations are well under way to launch a long-term solution in the coming months." Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3, said he welcomed the intervention from MPs "to keep pressure on all parties to deliver this". Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, said the firms were working together as part of an initial trial. "While we can't force companies to use these existing ducts and poles, we expect to see this development continue and we'll maintain our engagement with the firms involved to encourage further progress," a spokesperson said. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Entire street against plans for broadband poles Broadband companies must share infrastructure - MP Telecom watchdog declines broadband poles review Judge reviews village broadband pole decision Ofcom
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Broadband firms urged to speed up their infrastructure sharing
Broadband operators are being urged to speed up infrastructure sharing amid a backlash over the number of telegraph poles being put comes as residents in parts of Hull and East Yorkshire campaign about the poles being put up near their homes. Emma Hardy, the MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, has met telecoms minister Chris Bryant to discuss the said "unnecessary telegraph poles" were not considerate to "anyone's way of life". 'Urgent need' Hardy, who met Bryant on Tuesday, told the BBC it had been "a really positive meeting", and there was agreement to encourage companies to start sharing are taking place between KCOM and Connexin and between KCOM and MS3 involving shared telecommunications Hardy said that while some progress was being made, it was "not as fast as I would like to see to stop more poles going up in the community".She added: "This is something that everyone in the area has been calling for from day one."Bryant said Hardy had "highlighted the urgent need for consideration and community discussion when it comes to building new infrastructure", and added: "I continue to urge telecoms companies to do everything they can to share pre-existing infrastructure before building new poles." A spokesperson for KCOM said: "Good progress has been made with MS3 and Connexin and preparations are well under way to launch a long-term solution in the coming months."Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3, said he welcomed the intervention from MPs "to keep pressure on all parties to deliver this".Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, said the firms were working together as part of an initial trial. "While we can't force companies to use these existing ducts and poles, we expect to see this development continue and we'll maintain our engagement with the firms involved to encourage further progress," a spokesperson to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
