Convergence Conversation

Solving the Hull Problem

FibreStream and a representative of the local legal community joined a private meeting with OFCOM on Friday 18th September 2009, at the instigation and invitation of Hull North MP, Diana Johnson.

OFCOM representatives, David and Helen, travelled up north to Hull to also face a public meeting of local residents and other local businesses to hear their concerns about the lack of choice for telecoms in Hull.

It was agreed that FibreStream, the regulator and the local MP will keep in close contact going forwards to help open up the market in Hull as quickly and directly as is possible, so that Hull and surrounding areas have the same level of choices as are available to comparable areas elsewhere in the UK without further unnecessary delay.

The matter at hand is the expedited solution of the nationally-recognised Hull Problem and FibreStream, on behalf of many local and national competitive service providers, is leading this initiative to deliver choice and competition into the local market.

The Hull Problem has been building for over a decade and for the national audience it is worth describing the situation in greater detail:

Unlike for the other 99% of the UK population, residents and businesses in Hull have a single provider for ADSL services;

There is no provider for SDSL;

WLR (Wholesale Line Rental) is unavailable;

CPS (Carrier Pre Selection) is unavailable;

LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) is unavailable;

SLU (Sub Loop Unbundling) is unavailable;

The comparative costs for wideband IP data services in Hull and surrounding areas are significantly higher than those available for similar sized cities elsewhere in the UK and this puts the city and wider community at a competitive disadvantage.

It is FibreStream’s hope that the process now going forwards in close coordination with OFCOM to resolve the Hull Problem will have value and relevance in helping to prevent similar issues from adversely affecting emerging Open Access NGA networks in the UK.

Managing the First Mile access network transition from “Now-Gen” Copper to Next-Gen Fibre and Wireless (FiWi) will be vital to ensure customer service continuity and FibreStream sees this initiative as a quick-win for Hull that has wider and longer term benefits in terms of innovation at scale on the UK national NGA level.

In order to maintain visibility as we progress towards solving the Hull Problem, FibreStream will take an Open Letter approach to all relevant correspondence with the incumbent KCOM in the interests of transparency, as FibreStream has no Commercial Confidentiality concerns and simply wants to see the market opened up for all competitors.

Also posted on www.fibrestream.co.uk