NextGenUs Hull, a Community Interest Company (CIC) that specialises in delivering superfast broadband to the people of Hull (Yorkshire, UK) via their FiWi (Fibre Optic Over Wireless) services, has accused BSkyB ( Sky Broadband ) of effectively blocking attempts to promote its solution through the region's main shopping centres.

As a CIC NextGenUs Hull lacks the cash for major advertising campaigns, which are needed to help promote the launch of its new services in the region. Instead it had planned to demo the product in several of the area's major shopping centres, which was intended to form part of their "Superfast Broadband Awareness Days" promotion.


Ironically Sky's broadband service is not available in Hull and East Riding, where the regions telephone lines are controlled by KC (KCOM) instead of BT. NextGenUs Hull now claims to have been "left with no option but to use a much more expensive method of demonstrating its products". An announcement about their forthcoming plans should surface on Friday 19th August. We are currently awaiting a reply from Sky.

UPDATE 16th August 2011

It looks as if a solution might be near - HERE.