What is stopping any other company from coming into Hull

[solodanceparty]

Is it the price? I tried to complain about KC today about Ofcom and she basically told me to suck it up. They can do whatever they want, and will get away with it because it's legal. They won't force any competition into Hull saying it's because no one wants to come to Hull. They don't care that we're forced to use KC and whatever they give us. She might as well have told me KC has a legal monopoly.

[stormy]

Its basically economics, why invest in time, effort and money to come to Hull and East Yorkshire (the bit KC dominate) when the market share is ~400,000 homes when you can stay in the BT world and have potential access to millions. No company are a charity after all so the big (and small) players simply are not interested.

Unfortunately, things will never change I don't think. We may see small private providers trying (like the one mentioned on Look North) but I can't see any of the big players bothering. I'd loved to be prooved wrong though.

[Project Novo]

Its nothing to do with economics. Its to do with other providers having access to KC's services at the Wholesale level.

BT were forced by Ofcom as they had significant Market Power to open us its network to any body seeking access to its Network via Openreaches WLR2 and WLR3 Product set . Not the case in Hull !!!

For some reason !!!! Ofcom are reluctant to force KCOM to do this choosing to let the individual provider negotiate with KCOM and we all know its not in KCOM's interest to do this.

Ofcom have a legal obligation under their terms of reference to deliver this and I am voting Tory as David Cameron is threatening to abolish Ofcom if they are elected.

Also, every KC telephone line is illegal as it restricts competition through the illegal use of "tying" as Kingston will only provide you with a telephone line if you accept the terms for their unlimited local calls service.

I was instrumental in bringing competion to Hull for Cobus Communications which allows Cobus to have a wholesale agreement (Via a Company called Nexus) for providing and managing lines where Cobus / Nexus own the entire customer relationship.

Please see all my other posts.

Best of luck !!!!!!

PN   

   
         

[stormy]

So the big players are crying out for access to Hull's network? I don't think so. I thought the Wholesale prices that were issued were IDENTICAL to that on BTs network which is an Ofcom enforcement?

While I am a big critic of KCOM in this instance my opinion is they are not doing anything wrong.

In 2008, none of the 'big' players of the day complained of KCOM being anti-competative.

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Kcom-cleared-keeping-rival-broadband-companies/article-193652-detail/article.html

We can moan all we like about the fact we have a 'de-facto' monopoly here but to say KCOM acting illegally is a big claim IMO.

[Mardoxx]

Chavs.
/thread

[Project Novo]

Nothing to do with economics - I know the market is viable 

Its having access to the PSTN line at the same as Openreachs WLR3 offering that is the problem

Illegal line and calls pricing by KC ? - I will let you make up your own mind ! 

CA refers to the Competition Act


How do you think KCOM were forced to Wholesale Lines to Cobus !!!!! - It was the the threat of the complaint and being found guilty that forced them to give in - I wrote the complaint and met with KC and OFCOM on behalf of my client

http://www.cobuscommunications.co.uk/network_services/index.php


"I checked and we don't act for Kingston so you can refer to me if you want.
The charges would appear to constitute illegal tying or bundling contrary to the Chapter II prohibition (s18) Competition Act 1998, make the provision of one service (provision of phone line) conditional on the provision of another product/service (extra phone minutes at a fixed charge), which the customer may not want, and the tying of which cannot be objectively justified. Where the supplier is dominant this is an abuse of a dominant position. It's hard to see how this would be justified. If it had been
previously discussed and cleared with Ofcom eg that Kingston wished to increase charges and regulator said they couldn't unless some quid pro quo, and this was the deal, it would be good to know. In the absence of any such deal, I think Kingston would struggle. A letter pointing this out to Kingston, and possibly saying the charge is in your view illegal as it contravenes CA 1998 would be the right course. Contact with Ofcom as you outline may also be desirable.
Regards,
John Milligan
John Milligan
Partner EU & Competition
Clyde & Co LLP

[Robo]

Why do Cobus not offer their services to private customers?
If this were the case then surely Kcon would have to be competitive.

[Project Novo]

Hi Robo

Cobus are a provider of Business Services with most of customers calling outside the 01482. They are a reseller of Nexus's agreement with KC Nexus  http://www.nexusuk.com/    - there may be restrictions on who they can sell this to.

http://www.nexusuk.com/?page=newssingle&itemid=18

I helped broker the deal based on KC's illegal anti competitive lines and calls pricing (tying) of ALL lines in the Hull area.

The arrangement is also availibale to any other reseller but is based upon a spend commitment BUT the deal done by Nexus involves selling KC calls of which may Hull customers get BESPOKE!!! better retail rates than the wholesale rates supplied by KC to Nexus as part of this arrangement!  - Its under the catagory of "Wholesale" under the KC price list under the Regulatory section of the KC website.

PN   

[solodanceparty]

Bo hiss. I'll have to leave the area to have a choice. How pathetic.