Hull revealed as city with UK's fastest internet

10 October 2019, 13:34

The East Yorkshire city has city-wide full fibre broadband coverage. Picture: PA

By Sylvia DeLuca

Hull has the fastest internet connection in the UK after revealing it has city-wide full fibre broadband coverage.

Hull is officially "the first full fibre city in the UK" thanks to an £85 million investment project that has enabled 200,000 homes and businesses in the city and surrounding area to have access to ultrafast speeds of 1Gbps.

The East Yorkshire city's telecoms infrastructure has always been independent of the main UK network built by BT - a situation represented by Hull's distinct cream-coloured phone boxes.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made faster internet connections one of his goals, saying he wants full fibre available "for all by 2025".

KCOM, the firm which supplies the majority of residents and businesses, said Thursday's announcement has put Hull six years ahead of the Government's target.

Currently only 8 per cent of the country benefits from having complete fibre broadband coverage.

Hull City Council leader Stephen Brady said: "It is fantastic for the city that full fibre broadband is now available across KCOM's whole network.

"All businesses rely on good connectivity, from the smallest to the largest, and this means businesses in Hull can be confident that they can work faster and more efficiently.

Middleton Hall, University of Hull, Hull, Yorkshire, England. Picture: Getty

He added: "The city is in the middle of an economic and technological revolution. Full fibre broadband is a vital part of this for both new businesses and existing businesses looking to expand and grow."

Sean Royce, managing director of Lightstream who built the infrastructure, said: "Seven years ago we promised our customers the fastest broadband in the UK and, following the completion of our Lightstream rollout, we are proud to say we've delivered it.

"Broadband is now an essential utility and access to the fastest speeds on earth is already making a positive difference to homes and businesses in the region, which in turn will help benefit UK plc."

He added: "Our investment in full fibre broadband to date has had a major impact on the region, enabling households to stream, surf and play seamlessly online, and businesses to compete on a truly global scale, working faster and more efficiently.