Findings show major impact of Lightstream broadband on region’s economy
For every £1 KCOM has invested in its Lightstream rollout, the local economy has benefited by £5.50
KCOM has scooped a major award in recognition of its Lightstream full fibre broadband rollout.
The Hull-based communications and IT provider scooped the award for best urban impact at the inaugural Altnet (Alternative Network) awards in London last night.
The Altnets are organised by the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA) which celebrates excellence in the development of digital communication networks in the UK.
Sean Royce, KCOM managing director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be bringing the Altnet award for best urban impact home to Hull.
“This award is national recognition for all the hard work we have done in Hull and East Yorkshire to give the region full fibre broadband which we believe everyone in the UK should have. We faced some stiff competition from network providers doing sterling work in other parts of the country, so we’re delighted the judges recognised the scale of what we have achieved here with our unprecedented Lightstream rollout which really is leading the way in the UK, if not Europe.
“The award for urban impact is particularly pleasing as its shows how our full fibre network is helping to revolutionise Hull’s digital economy. With Lightstream underpinning the region’s tech and digital sectors we are seeing the city go from strength to strength as one of the UK’s leading digital hubs. This is creating hundreds of jobs and enabling innovative homegrown tech talent to flourish.”
The INCA judging panel praised KCOM’s ground breaking broadband rollout as industry leading, recognising that more than 7,000 jobs across Hull and East Yorkshire’s burgeoning digital economy were underpinned by its ultrafast fibre network.
KCOM’s six-year rollout of Fibre To The Premise (FTTP) broadband is now nearing completion. More than 200,000 properties across KCOM’s Hull and East Yorkshire network will have access to Lightstream by March 2019. This is compared to just five per cent of properties with access to full fibre broadband nationally.