Internet provider hits back in row about poles

Residents have tried to stop the installation of telegraph poles outside their homes

An internet service provider has responded in a row over telegraph poles.

Connexin has published an open letter to Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire residents after KCOM revealed that a feasibility study had been sent to its competitors regarding the use of its infrastructure.

In its letter published on Tuesday 19 March, Connexin accuses KCOM of putting "obstacles in the way of what should be a simple process".

KCOM said it was "surprised and disappointed to read the negative response to the feasibility study".

The Hull-based company has been accused of not allowing its competitors to access its underground network, which has led rival companies to install telegraph poles.

This has caused anger with residents, who are unhappy about the poles going up in their neighbourhoods.

Telecoms watchdog Ofcom said it would not undertake an emergency review of the matter after East Riding of Yorkshire Council had asked it to.

The regulator added that KCOM was already obliged to share its infrastructure with other providers and an Ofcom spokesperson confirmed that no rival had raised a formal dispute.

'Applied for access'

KCOM announced on 14 March it had drawn up plans to share its infrastructure in a bid to stop more poles being installed across East Yorkshire.

It said a feasibility study has been sent in confidence to Connexin to ask for its views.

Connexin's response is to publish an open letter from chief executive officer Furqan Alamgir in which it claims it has "tried working collaboratively with KCOM for many years".

"We have applied more than 15 times in the past three years for access to KCOM’s infrastructure."

KCOM said it complied with its "regulatory and statutory duties"

In response, KCOM said the firm was "enabling other companies to use KCOM fibre infrastructure to supply broadband services" and it complied with its "regulatory and statutory duties".

"We want to work constructively with all wholesale partners who are committed to meeting the needs of local households and businesses," a spokesperson said.

“We have been surprised and disappointed to read the negative response to the feasibility study from one supplier.

"We hope that such feasibility study is given the consideration it merits.

"We are committed to engaging constructively with our suppliers to create a standard offer that delivers access to KCOM’s passive infrastructure, and ensures as little disruption to local communities as possible."

Julia Lopez, the data and digital infrastructure minister, has sent a public letter to numerous operators, including KCOM, calling for telecoms firms to do "everything possible" to stop the installation of new telegraph poles across the country.

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