Karoo ISP

Infobox Company
company_name = Karoo
company_
company_type = Public (lse|KCOM)
foundation = 1996
location = Kingston upon Hull, UK
key_people =
industry = ISP
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Kingston Communications
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.karoo.co.uk Karoo.co.uk]
footnotes =

Karoo is an Internet Service Provider in the United Kingdom. Formed in 1996 by Kingston Communications, a subsidiary of the KCOM Group, it primarily serves consumers in Kingston upon Hull and the surrounding area.

Service History

Before the introduction of unmetered, '0800' dialup Internet access and broadband, Karoo was one the first ISPs in the country to offer untimed Internet calls. It followed on from the success (or over success) of the Demon Internet Point of Presence (PoP) in Hull. This was set up with the initial formation of Demon in June 1992. Demon allowed users in Hull to make untimed 5.5p+vat calls to access the Internet via dialup accounts. Karoo followed on a few years after Demon removed their local PoP. Karoo Xtra allowed Kingston Communications customers 7 hours untimed access for the price of a 5.5p+vat call charge (and a subscription fee of £15 per month).

This led to the Hull gaining a reputation for being a so called 'digital city although many in Hull feel this would no longer be valid due mainly to the fact that faster and more diverse digital services are available throughout other parts of the UK.

Current Services

Today, Karoo provides dialup and ADSL broadband services, up to 8 Mbit/s with POP3 email and web hosting including in the majority of packages.

Karoo broadband services are only available to residents in the Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire area and with a Kingston Communications residential line.

It is speculated that alternative ISPs consider the size of the market too small for this to be a viable commercial proposition for them although as of Feb 2008 Karoo Broadband in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire had approximately 81,400 subscribers. [ [http://www.kcom.com/investorcentre/docs/kcom_Interim_2007_2008.pdf KCOM Group PLC Interim Report 2007/2008 ] ]

Karoo Packages

Karoo offers 4 ADSL broadband plans based on price and performance. All plans, regardless of price, offer a connection speed of up to 8Mbit/s and are subject to [http://www.karoo.co.uk/broadband/performance_management.asp performance management] and a [http://www.karoo.co.uk/broadband/fair_usage_policy.asp fair usage policy] . Throughput speed is dependent on plan and service status.

Karoo are currently introducing [http://www.karoo.co.uk/broadband/ 3 new broadband packages] offering up to 8Mbit/s they are as follows:

Karoo Lite:

2Gb Monthly Usage Limit (£2 per Gb thereafter)
1 Karoo Mailbox
Free Technical Support
£30 Set up fee
18 Month Contract

Karoo Mid:

10Gb Monthly Usage Limit (£1 per Gb thereafter)
5 Karoo Mailboxes
25Mb Webspace
Free Technical Support
No Set up fee
12 Month Contract

Karoo Pro:

75Gb Monthly Usage Limit (Unlimited usage from 12am to 8am everyday)
10 Karoo Mailboxes
50Mb Webspace
Free Technical Support
No Set up fee
12 Month Contract

In addition to this, 4 dial-up plans are offered based on price and usage.

Criticism

"See: KCOM Group - Monopoly Issues"

Hull City A.F.C. Sponsorship

Karoo is the home shirt sponsor of Premier League team Hull City A.F.C. Parent company Kingston Communications sponsors the stadium and away kit.

External links

* [http://www.karoo.co.uk/ Karoo Portal]
* [http://www.karoo-user-group.co.uk Karoo User Group]
* [http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=karoo Karoo forum] at thinkbroadband.com
* [http://www.karooforums.net/ Unofficial Karoo Forums]
* [http://www.makekaroobetter.org.uk/ Make Karoo Better]

References