Ofcom Expand Easier Broadband and Phone Switching to KC in Hull

The UK communications regulator has today announced that their new harmonised broadband ISP and phone switching process (GPL NoT+) is to be expanded to include operators that offer similar services via KC’s (KCOM) incumbent telecoms network in and around Hull (East Riding of Yorkshire, England).

The new harmonised Gaining Provider Led Notification of Transfer (GPL NoT+) migration system, which makes it easier to swap suppliers by putting the responsibility into the hands of your new rather than existing (losing) provider, is due to come into force on 20th June 2015.

KC’s network is of course a separate physical infrastructure and broadly operates in an area where BT’s rival Openreach platform cannot be found, which means that Ofcom’s new migration rules for Hull will only apply to ISPs operating off KC’s platform. There are some areas where the two networks overlap, but Ofcom has excluded these from the new rules (it would be very tedious to solve this).

Ofcoms Statement

COM provides voice and broadband services in the Kingston upon Hull area, where the Openreach copper network is not available.

Today’s statement follows Ofcom’s decision, in December 2013, to introduce a harmonised gaining-provider-led process for consumers switching landline and broadband providers on Openreach’s network.

Ofcom will implement on the KCOM network the same additional measures that are in force on the Openreach network to help prevent consumers losing service when changing provider, or being switched without their consent.

Since there isn’t much direct competition for KC’s services in Hull then we don’t envisage this having a big impact. It’s also worth noting that the new rules only apply to ISPs that operate off KC’s “copper network“, which excludes their new pure fibre optic (FTTP) Lightstream base. The regulators full statement can be read here.