Altnet ISP Grain to Expand FTTP Broadband Network in Hull UK
Alternative network operator Grain (Grain Connect), which has already grown their gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to cover 220k UK premises RFS (21st May 2024) and 30k customers, has announced that they’re going to expand their existing deployment in the East Yorkshire city of Hull.
The operators full fibre network can currently be found in parts of 59 UK locations (plus over 150 new build housing developments), which includes a lot of small-to-modest sized patches of various urban areas like Leicester, Liverpool, Accrington, Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Scarborough, Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Hartlepool, Newport, Sunderland, Blackburn and so forth.
Grain’s deployment in Hull first went live all the way back in mid-2023 (here) and at that point their network was claiming to have reached around 20,000 premises, although they’ve since expanded a bit more. This is despite facing aggressive competition from gigabit-capable rivals like KCOM (the local incumbent), Connexin and MS3.
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However, despite the seemingly high level of local overbuild, it appears as if Grain are now “excited to bring our gigabit network to more areas across Hull“. But the catch is that they haven’t said precisely how many premises will benefit from this expansion, over what timescale or which new areas they’re intending to target.
“Unlike some providers, we’ve adopted a more thoughtful approach to our network expansion by keeping our infrastructure out of sight. All of Grain’s optical cables are installed underground, meaning there’s no need for unsightly telegraph poles. This not only improves connectivity but also respects Hull’s landscape and local concerns,” added Grain’s announcement.
Customers of the new service normally pay from just £19.99 per month (currently discounted to £9.99 for 6 months) for a symmetric 150Mbps package on an 18-month term, which goes up to just £29.99 (discounted to £14.99 for 6 months) for their top 900Mbps plan. But take note that out-of-contract prices are £5 higher than this.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Its good to see more competition in Hull. Are Openreach still banned from building there?
No telecoms are banned fro multiplying infrastructure anywhere and that is the problem . They must have all been very bad children these telecoms operators , they never learnt to share .
Yes to choice of ISP
No to multiple infrastructures
It’s a good job gas and electric never went down this route
No they have been able to build there for ages. They don’t see the point. They have a few bits of the East Ridings where they have some infrastructure but have no interest in building to homes in Hull. They have enough to do upgrading the rest of the country.
@Witcher, East Riding, singular. Finger trouble probably or the dreaded autocorrect?
It seems Hull streets are being targeted by bad practise of code operators .Code operators have legal obligations. They have codes of practise to abide by the ECC code (2003)and the cabinet and pole siting code . All code operators at the design stage should seek to share infrastructure. Permitted development rights for telecommunications installations in 2022 has given them a way to bypass planning and install as many different infrastructures as they like . OFCOM their regulatory body cannot stop overbuild without one code operator reporting another . Hopefully , I’m praying Sir Chris Bryant at his round table meeting with code operators on the 12th September will be making it crystal clear that sharing of infrastructure will be the default practise and if not planning will be involved and public consultation . Legislation needs to change . OFCOM need more powers . Bad practise of multiple unnecessary infrastructure needs to be halted NOW
I don’t think any company has ever reached any sharing agreement with KCOM hence all the new networks in Hull.
Not the ideal situation but at least KCOM has started to offer more competitive pricing now that people have a choice of providers in Hull.
I don’t think Ofcom is too bothered about using its existing powers if I’m honest.
Without a change in thinking, I’m sure this would be deemed “not a regulatory priority”.
Ask KCOM to give you the terms they asked MS3 and Connexin for to use their infrastructure when the alternative operators first asked about it. Prices, need for a babysitter to supervise work, how ordering works, all that good stuff. If they won’t tell you what does that say about the terms?
Ask KCOM about how much it would cost to copy the Openreach systems for infrastructure access. Those systems are what is needed to make the access work.
You expect these smaller companies to spend the money to provide access on terms that are workable but you lot barely say a word about KCOM and whenever anyone points out how much more sharing goes on outside Hull and the East Ridings most of you shove your fingers in your ears and carry on overpaying for broadband.
Your talking points sometimes read like they’re straight from KCOM press releases. You totally have a good point but lose the moral high ground when you refuse to acknowledge the role of KCOM. No-one is planting poles because they feel like it.
This is going to interesting to watch with 2 other companies already competing with KCOM but with no PIA agreement between them they are putting up there own poles causing issues for the residents of Hull . For years the people of Hull have complained about the monopoly KCOM had and now they a choice but it comes with more poles . I wonder how many of these altnets will be around in 5 years time and how many merge or get bought out like UPP was by Virgin. It’s a bit like when the cable companies were around in the 90s but they didn’t build in other cable companies areas . Unlike the alnets
I do wonder if KCOM will still be around in 5 years.
Existing customers are getting nearly half price renewal deals and a lot of customers are leaving to move to faster networks.
KCOM is an older GPON network that cant do symmetrical speeds, maybe that is why no one wants to pay to share as it is older technology and KCOM don’t appear to be spending on network upgrades.
The difference in the 90’s is that the Department of Trade and Industry set out unique franchises for purchase.. each exclusive and meant overbuilding was impossible
the 90s cable companies also had the benefit of the government tying one of BT’s hands behind its back, through blocking its fibre rollout and banning one of the business cases for major network upgrades by providing its own TV services. Not something that applied to KCOM of course, since they notably provided one of the earliest IPTV/VoD systems.
these days that is thankfully gone and Openreach is mostly able to provide actual competitive pressure, although PIA still helps to tip the scales against them. Hopefully they’ll get another GEA price cut.