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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Technology
David Laister

KCom cans inflation-linked price rise on regional broadband network

Hull broadband provider KCom has cancelled its planned inflation-linked price rise this year.

The business is acting to help customers facing a cost of living crisis, as energy and food bills soar.

It comes amid growing competition too for the resident provider, with rival networks being laid across the city.

Read more: KCom grows broadband customer base in Covid year that saw £31.4m sell off of national business

March was due to herald a Consumer Price Index plus 3.9 per cent rise for almost quarter of a million customers across Hull, East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

John Rooney, KCom Retail managing director, said: “We are all aware that the past few years have been challenging for many people.

"The uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the recent rises in the cost of living have made life difficult for many families as they’ve had to tighten their belts to make ends meet.

"Despite this, access to fast, reliable broadband has never been more important as we continue to work and stay connected to our friends and families more than ever before from home.

John Rooney, KCom Retail managing director. (Reach Plc)

“As a business that’s been at the heart of the local community for nearly 120 years, KCom has always done whatever it can to help and support its customers wherever it can. As a local business with deep roots across the region, our customers aren’t just our customers, but they’re also often our friends, families and neighbours.

“That’s why, this year, we’ve decided to keep our prices the same and to not add to the burden of rising costs that we are experiencing in everything from our utility bills to our shopping baskets.

“While other providers are continuing to implement their contractual annual price rises of 3.9 per cent plus the rate of CPI inflation in their customers’ bills, we have decided not to. This means our customers will not see any increase in their KCom bill in the year ahead due to CPI.

“Hopefully this will help our customers plan their household budgets with more confidence in the next 12 months and also leave a little more money in their pockets to help pay for life’s essentials.”

Virgin Media recently announced an average price rise of £4.70 per month - £56.40 a year - for its broadband customers with other major suppliers expected to follow suit.

It comes as the £100 million expansion of KCom’s award-winning network continues.

Latest figures showed it added almost 6,000 more customers in the year to March 31, a period in which it returned to operating profit after selling off its national interests.

Ongoing business delivered £400,000 of growth for the £99 million turnover firm.

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