Kingston Communications is an established UK communications company. The Group's national business-to-business capabilities encompass the provision of fully integrated and managed network solutions, complemented by the delivery of voice, data and call handling services in the towns and cities served by the Kingston Communications network. This infrastructure comprises twenty-five metropolitan fibre networks and a long distance broadband network, which was initiated for service in May 2001. Kingston's new media activities include the DSL-based interactive television service, KIT, and satellite broadband content, storage and distribution arm, Kingston inmedia. The Group's East Yorkshire network operation has served business and residential customers since 1904.

Afternoon RCT, I think we will call this our thread, apart from Little Woman who is in Oz we seem to be the only two. Anyway more good news for the faithfull:

News
30 September 2004

Kingston Communications Wins Multi-Million Pound Police Contract

North Wales Police Authority has awarded Kingston Communications a multi-million pound contract to replace its entire communications infrastructure.

The five-year managed service agreement which was secured following a competitive tender - brings the number of substantial police authority customers that Kingston currently has in England and Wales to 17.

It will see Kingston replacing the force's existing network with a single converged voice and data network supporting IP (Internet protocol) telephony.

Initially linking 75 sites, the network could also support high bandwidth multimedia-based applications such as CCTV and video conferencing.

Over the last two years North Wales Police has begun implementing new cutting-edge IT applications such as a Records Management System, Duty Management System and a new Command and Control application.

Aspects of these systems will be interfaced together to provide a one stop shop approach to operational police systems, and will also be accessible in a mobile environment via palm and tablet devices.

Geoff Bradley, ICT Director at North Wales Police, points out: Our current network was reaching capacity and we simply could not make best use of the new applications or exploit the advantages of multimedia. These capabilities are very much in line with the national desire to use technology to improve front-line policing.

The IP virtual private network (VPN) solution will have a high bandwidth 100Mbps LAN Extension Service (LES)* based core linking 20 larger sites, with 55 further sites being equipped with a minimum 2Mbps IPVPN service. This means that any required change to network capacity can be easily accommodated.

As well as deploying Cisco based LAN switch and routing solutions to each site, Kingston will also upgrade the force's 22 existing Mitel PABXs to support IP telephony, adding remote IP handsets at smaller sites.

The multi-million pound managed service agreement also covers project management, implementation and ongoing support as well as call logging and 24 hour network monitoring and management.

Geoff Bradley commented: North Wales Police required a more flexible, resilient and scalable infrastructure that could easily evolve as the network changes and develops over time. Following an extensive European tender exercise, we chose Kingston because we needed an organisation who could not only provide and deliver a single solution for voice & data, but also importantly provide a fully managed service, with the emphasis on customer service.

North Wales Police are responsible for policing a large geographical area, which is home to approximately 657,000 people. It covers large rural regions, busy towns, two cities and the Snowdonia National Park, all of which require very specific types of policing support. There is also the ferry port on Anglesey, a number of significant tourist areas, and the industrial regions of the eastern side, which are experiencing a surge in development.

Other police forces that have communications contracts with Kingston include Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, Humberside, Avon & Somerset, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Sussex and Surrey.

* This allows you to connect two sites with local area networks (LANs) to create a wide area network.

Little Woman, back from Oz now anything to add to this much neglected thread. I personally believe that this pheonix is about to rise. The trading statement has been neglected by the market, had it been a negative statement we all know what would have been the result. I believe that the long termers will be well rewarded for their patience.

Hi optomistic, totally agree. I've just topped up again at 52.41p. KCOM previously bounced from this level, here's hoping.

Good luck rct, I'm well invested here. Ints 30 Nov. Like the rest of the alt telcos the market is against them at the moment but I like to think that eventually the mood will change.

Thanks, excellent timing as usual...:-(

rct. Best buy price on last trades page 51.75p so not too far away there. I bought more VOD today needless to say I didn't hit the bottom. Never do, some must occasionally, lucky persons!!

Oh well, in for a penny, in for a few more at 49.91p.

rct,
Good luck with your buy and I do hope that you have touched a low. I am quite heavy into KCOM and would like to see a turn upwards before I make another move. It does appear that the company is most unloved at the moment and I think we will have to be patient for the change in sentiment to happen.
Regards
opto

News Release:

14:30 - 18 October 2004
East Riding: Kingston Communications today announced it is revamping its broadband services to make them faster.

The firm today increased the speed of its services by 50 per cent and removed download limits.

It says the move will make its broadband services the fastest in the UK, but prices will stay the same.

KC also announced five more East Yorkshire villages are to be connected to broadband.

Steve Whitt, head of market development at KC's East Yorkshire division, said: "This is great news for broadband customers.

"When we cut our prices in August, we promised more Internet enhancements were on the way.

"KC surfers now benefit from some of the fastest ADSL broadband speeds in the UK as well as unlimited downloads."

The new system will allow users of the Karoo Broadband 750 package to download a three-minute movie in 36 seconds, while users of the Broadband 1500 package will be able to download it in 18 seconds.

Mr Whitt said the development of KC's broadband services was crucial for the company and the region.

He said: "Broadband is fundamental to our industry and our business. We have the skills in this area that we are keen to capitalise on.

"This is good for Hull. It has aspirations to become a digital city and this is part and parcel of that."

Mr Whitt believes KC offers broadband customers a "highly competitive" package, despite criticism of its broadband prices.

He said: "In August, we dropped our prices and that proved very popular with our customers.

"It caused a lot of our customers to make the move from traditional dial-up services to broadband.

"What's significant is that we have brought the price of our entry-level package below 20. Karoo Broadband 250 costs 18.99 a month.

"That costs only 1 more than the dial-up service."

Arnold, Long Riston, Brandesburton, North Cave, and Hutton Cranswick are to get connected to broadband in the next two weeks.

Homes interested in KC broadband should call (01482) 602444, while business customers should call (01482) 602900.

Cheers opto. Like you, I've now got enough invested here. Roll on 30th November.

A while ago I put up an article warning readers of KCOM attitude to customers and efficieny of operations seen as one of the 20,000 broadband users (and TV & phones). The sp was somewhere around the 70 mark and I said I would not go near them until they clean uo their act. From the response I saw I susoect some KCOM employees contribute to this BB.

So then, not a surprise to me to see the chart and the fall off in price. I still have both BT & KCOM broadband (different houses), we are now on the 750. However today alone we suffered slow access rates and at one point this afternoon web pages were unavailable. We also have KCOM phones and Sat TV ( we also have BT phones so we are able to make a fair comparison).

In summary, KCOM are better than they used to be (a year ago) but still have work to do. From personal experience their broadband is slower than BT Yahoo broadband and the phones, especially on international calls which we do a lot of as hubby works abroad, are much more expensive. Just to clarify for doubters out there our BT set up is in our house in Newcastle, our KCOM is in Beverley (Nr Hull).

We have frequently traded KCOM shares in the past couple of years always making a small profit, our last sell was around the 70p when we were losing faith in them due to the service. The service is better now, and if it keeps improving then the shares may look oversold - keeping a watch on them anyway, may even go back into them sometime soon.

Thanks Minx, it's good to hear something even slightly positive particularly from a local user. Perhaps other local users have views but are reluctant to share them. If so come on do so nobody bites here.
opto

went back in at 52p on the expectation it has found the bottom and will now turn up to results, after all they are better than they used to be - now watch me be proved wrong! hope not.

ttt

Happy up to now, esp after the shares comments on the other thread, fingers crossed I made the right call.

Does this mornings news breath new life into KCOM:

Kingston to buy Omnetica for 169 mln stg from KKR-controlled funds
AFX


LONDON (AFX) - Kingston Communications (Hull) PLC said it has conditionally agreed to buy Omnetica from a company controlled by funds managed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) for 169 mln stg, to be satisfied by 99 mln stg in cash, and 70 mln through the issue of new shares.

Kingston said it expects the acquisition to be both earnings and cash flow enhancing in the first full year of consolidation

The company added that when the deal is completed, KKR will become a strategic shareholder in Kingston with a 24.6 pct stake.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of December, and is conditional upon shareholder approval at its EGM on Dec 20.

Also to pay interim divi.

Good morning opto, all sounds v. positive to me. EBITDA up nearly 20%, resumption of divi's, major acquisition. Totally different message to that recently released by the likes of Thus. Glad I topped up last week.

Morning RCT, nicely timed top up. As to THUS perhaps this news from KCOM will shake them into action.

Very good news indeed.... the dilution of Hull's holding will give greater impertous to any stakebuilding.....re, this company turning around, it has started today as far as we are concerned.

We should see further rises this week....... the m/m's are working it well enough, no great rise just steady......any retracement hapened during the day, so we may see a clear rise on the charts each day for a while, untill the price needs a rest....IMHO

must be honest, as a local user the system has been pretty good over the last few months. Internet has been quick, phones are working fine, let's hope this is the future. The cable TV is still up & running but I do not know what is / has happened with that or if it changed hands, it is still called KIT. As we bought back in at the 52p sp hope it keeps going up. For the TA's amongst us looking at the charts it seems there could be a resitance along the top of peaks at 62p, although charts show 71p as the next resistance point.

Happy New Year

Minx