Broadband in Hull: KCOM, Full Fibre and alternatives

Dan Howdle • September 4th, 2024

You won't find broadband packages from BT, Virgin Media, or any provider that runs on the Openreach network (most other providers) available in Hull. Instead, KCOM is the incumbent, and residents now have several alternative options.

In this guide, we will take a look at how this came to be the case with Hull internet provision, what the current situation is, what alternatives there are, and take a look at the packages KCOM and other providers offer.

What's different about broadband in Hull?

Before BT, the UK's telephone network was owned and run by the state under the Post Office brand. However, Kingston upon Hull remained independent, which is still the case today. The plus side is that if you live there, you have access to KCOM, a broadband and general telephony provider only available in Hull and its surrounding areas.

The downside, traditionally, was that you were cut off from the vast majority of providers available in the rest of the UK, such as any provider using Openreach (BT, Sky, TalkTalk and the rest) and Virgin Media. Luckily, competition is increasing. Full Fibre providers such as Connexin, MS3 Networks, and Grain Connect now offer gigabit-capable broadband options, giving residents more choice than ever before.

Who is KCOM, and is it any good?

KCOM started life in the early 20th century as the Hull Corporation, which later became the Hull City Council. Over time, it evolved through different names such as Kingston Communications and Karoo. These days, everything is under the KCOM brand. It continues to be the dominant provider in the area, although it now faces competition from several altnets (alternative Full Fibre networks such as Connexin, MS3, Grain Connect and Hull Fibre (more on those later).

KCOM’s broadband service, known as Lightstream, offers full-fibre broadband across Hull. The company was bought by MEIF 6 Fibre Ltd in August 2019, though this has not had a noticeable impact on the service for residents.

Historically, KCOM was a pioneer, offering digital TV services, but it no longer provides TV options. Residents can subscribe to Sky, but Virgin Media, BT TV, and other similar services are not available due to the absence of their infrastructure.

What speeds does KCOM offer?

Since KCOM runs its own network, which is obviously on a much smaller scale than the UK-spanning networks owned by Openreach and Virgin Media, it can offer its customers very, very fast download speeds. So while it may be a legitimate complaint from those living in and around Hull that they have less choice of provider compared to the rest of the UK, no one can argue that this leaves them with slow, unsatisfactory broadband, unless there is a fault.

Although EE Broadband and Vodafone Broadband and remains the fastest widely available broadband providers in the UK with speeds of up to 1.6Gbps, KCOM is not far behind, offering packages ranging from a perfectly adequate 30Mbps, all the way up to a more-than-enough-for-anyone 900Mbps. The higher speeds in the range are sold under its 'Lightstream' internet brand, which denotes that the connection is FTTH (fibre to the home) – or in other words 100% of the connection is fibre optic, all the way to your door, which enables these very fast speeds.

Here's a detailed look at the many, many packages and speeds available from KCOM. Bear in mind that this was only correct at the time of writing, so if the picture is a little different when you read this, that'll be why. Check the date at the top of this page if you want to get an idea of how recent this info is.

*Pricing is correct at the time of writing

Note that KCOM is not exclusively a Full Fibre provider, but rather only offers 'FTTC' or 'Superfast' fibre (fibre that still uses copper cables in parts of the network, or ADSL (all copper network), to homes that can get nothing else. Weirdly, KCOM also calls its FTTC packages 'Full Fibre' (E.G. Full Fibre Lite, Full Fibre 50 and so on), even though these are not Full Fibre connections.

Are there any alternatives to KCOM in Hull?

Although both Openreach providers and Virgin Media are a complete no-show for Hull, that doesn't mean you're completely without choice if you live there. If you've had a bad experience with any provider, it often poisons the well, and will push many to find another company more deserving of loyalty.

As well as 4G or 5G home broadband, and satellite broadband, both of which are available across the entire UK (Hull included), there are also a few, smaller independent providers that have popped up in recent years to cover the area, though some of these providers lease their lines from KCOM, so the speeds and packages offered are very similar.

Connexin

Connexin is one of the major alternative providers in Hull, offering hyperfast fibre broadband with speeds up to 1500Mbps. Connexin is known for its stable pricing, no in-contract price rises, and free installation. It also provides advanced features such as a SmartHome app, Protect IQ security, and Wi-Fi 6 routers for improved home connectivity.

*Pricing is correct at the time of writing

Why choose Connexin?

• No in-contract price rises: Enjoy stable and predictable pricing throughout your contract term, with no surprises.
• Free installation and setup: Save on initial costs, as Connexin offers free installation for all packages.
• SmartHome app: Includes Protect IQ for enhanced security and Experience IQ for user management, providing more control over your home network.
• Wi-Fi 6 routers: Benefit from advanced wireless connectivity, with better coverage and faster speeds for all your devices.
• Symmetrical gigabit speeds: Connexin offers speeds up to 1500Mbps, ideal for gaming, streaming, and working from home without interruptions.

Grain Connect

Grain Connect offers high-speed broadband options at competitive prices. Still expanding its network in Hull, Grain is known for reliability and fast installation, serving residents looking for affordable gigabit speeds.

*Pricing is correct at the time of writing

Why choose Grain Connect?

• Fast installation: Grain offers quick installation, often within days, ensuring you can get connected without long delays.
• Budget-friendly packages: Starting at just £25 per month, Grain provides affordable options for smaller households or those on a budget.
• Reliable gigabit speeds: High-speed broadband (up to 900Mbps) at competitive prices, ideal for gaming, streaming, and heavy usage.
• Expanding coverage: Grain is growing its network across Hull, making gigabit broadband accessible to more areas.
• Excellent customer support: Grain prioritises customer service, offering a smooth experience from installation to ongoing support.

Alternative broadband technologies available in Hull

While you cannot get Openreach providers (BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk and so on), or Virgin Media in Hull and surrounds, you can still get alternative wireless broadband technologies that are available everywhere, namely 4G/5G broadband and satellite.

While it's highly unlikely you will need either of these technologies, they do have their uses in very specific instances.

• 4G or 5G home broadband – This is where you get your broadband connection through a mobile provider. The router installed in your home connects to the airwaves instead of a fixed line. Sometimes these can actually be quite fast, though are often somewhat less reliable than a fixed-line broadband solution
• Satellite broadband – Is available to everyone in the UK from a number of different providers. It isn't particularly fast, but it is particularly expensive and is a technology reserved exclusively for those with no other options

MS3 Networks: Why are they important to Hull?

MS3 Networks will show up when you search for broadband providers in Hull, but technically they are not a broadband provider. Instead they are an infrastructure provider that sells use of its network to actual broadband providers. MS3 is like Openreach in this regard, but uses an exclusively pure fibre network.

What's particularly interesting about this is that some national providers such as TalkTalk and Direct Save, which can't access Hull customers via Openreach (because it's not there), are able to offer services by partnering with MS3. Here are the additional providers on offer in Hull offered via MS3:

*Pricing is correct at the time of writing