£100m programme unveiled to deliver full fibre future for the region
KCOM has revealed its £100m vision to provide large swathes of the region with a full fibre network.
The Hull-based broadband provider has confirmed its plans to deliver fast, future-proofed and accessible full fibre broadband across Hull, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
The investment includes £62m to expand its network to more than 50,000 more homes and businesses in 14 towns and villages; £10m to upgrade 14,000 properties in East Yorkshire currently without full fibre, £17m to replace ageing copper phone lines in Hull with a new fibre network and a £10m long-term upgrade of the existing fibre network to enable download speeds of 10Gbps.
KCOM chief executive, Tim Shaw, said: “In 2019, KCOM enabled Hull to become the first full fibre broadband city in the UK when we completed our first fibre network rollout – more than a decade ahead of the rest of the UK.
“Then, in 2020, we announced ambitious plans to invest £100m to reach a further 100,000 properties in East Yorkshire and, for the first time in the company’s history, across the Humber to North Lincolnshire.
“Now, in that same pioneering spirit we are forging ahead again.
“This £100m investment is a statement of confidence in our business, our region and our future as we make our region one of the best connected in the UK and beyond.
“This will cement our reputation as a world class destination that’s not only a great place to live but also a place where high value digital and tech businesses can invest and thrive. It will be a major boost to the local economy creating dozens of skilled jobs and enhancing local supply chains.”
KCOM will expand to communities such as Flamborough in East Yorkshire and Hunmanby, Stamford Bridge and Cayton in North Yorkshire. More towns and villages will be announced in the coming months.
The growth will take KCOM’s overall footprint to 350,000 properties. It will also mean the creation of up to 50 new local, highly-skilled engineering jobs to help build the network.
Dr Ian Kelly, chief executive of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is great news for the Humber region with more investment cementing our area’s reputation as one of the UK’s most desirable places for business to locate, invest and then compete on a global level.
“Online connectivity is key to creating a thriving future for Hull and the Humber and once again KCOM is leading the way by investing in and unleashing our region’s enormous potential.”