KCOM review 2025

KCOM broadband review

KCOM broadband hasn’t got national name recognition. But if you live in or near Hull, you’ll likely have heard of it.

It’s been a key broadband player in the area for years, a legacy of the days when the Post Office ran the then state-owned broadband network.

The result is a provider that offers ultrafast fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband, with local customer service teams and speeds that are the match for almost all of its major rivals.

Read our comprehensive KCOM broadband review and we’ll give you a complete insight into what’s on offer and how it stacks up against the rest of the market.

KCOM broadband review: Cost

There’s no getting around the fact that KCOM broadband isn’t cheap. But for what’s on offer, it’s no surprise.

This is rapid broadband that comes straight into the home, utilising an impressive set-up to give you the very best internet connection around.

At the time of writing, it has five packages available under its Lightstream brand:

• Full Fibre Lite – average download speeds of 30Mbps

• Full Fibre 100 – speeds of 100Mbps

• Full Fibre 175 – speeds of 175Mbps

• Full Fibre 500 – speeds of 500Mbps

• Full Fibre 900 – speeds of 900Mbps

Prices start from £29.99 a month for the entry-level Full Fibre Lite package, going up to £69.99 for the top-of-the-range Full Fibre 900 plan. All are available on 24-month contracts.

It's worth noting, though, that KCOM often runs promotions for new customers that bring down the cost by quite a bit. For example, Full Fibre 900 can be had for £49.99 a month.

So, by comparing KCOM broadband prices with MoneySuperMarket, you can score significant savings if you’re a new customer.

All plans come with a one-off £24.99 connection fee.

Do keep an eye out for an annual price rise of 3.9% plus the CPI rate of inflation, which happens every March.

KCOM broadband review: Speed

If it’s speed you’re after, then KCOM has got you covered.

At 30Mbps, its basic Full Fibre Lite package is decent enough and will be perfectly fine for most households.

But with 100Mbps, 175Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps options, KCOM is every bit the match for major rivals, many of which remain unavailable in the Hull area that it serves.

Those speeds will ensure smooth streaming, breezy gaming and snappy downloads, especially if you opt for one of the faster packages.

KCOM broadband review: Data limits, fair usage and traffic management

KCOM does not make use of data limits or impose fair usage limits on its broadband packages. All plans come with unlimited data – that means you can browse and stream as much as you want, without worrying about exceeding any allowances or having your speeds slowed down.

However, it does operate traffic management at a network level during extremely busy periods, as detailed in its legal documents.

Nevertheless, this is unlikely to affect everyday use.

KCOM broadband review: Router

KCOM offers all customers a Light Hub 2.0 router. Helping deliver a faster, more reliable service, the router comes with Wi-Fi 6 capability, Smart Wi-Fi capability, and better quality antennae (2.4Ghz - 4x4 and 5Ghz - 4x4).

To boost your coverage even further, KCOM offers Smart Wi-Fi for an extra £5 per month. Using your Light Hub router and Wi-Fi 6 access points, it lets you create a powerful mesh network at home,

These access points are better than standard boosters and are great for larger homes or places where connections often drop out. Plus, they're quick and easy to install – just plug in and go. The MPro app lets you quickly optimise your access points, too.

KCOM broadband review: Home phone

All KCOM broadband packages come with a pay as you go package as standard.

If you regularly use your home phone, you might want to pay extra for a more comprehensive plan. These include:

• UK Landlines – unlimited local calls

• UK Landlines + Mobiles – unlimited local calls and UK mobile calls

• International 1000 – unlimited calls to UK mobiles, as well as 1,000 anytime minutes to landlines in 45 worldwide destinations

• All Inclusive – unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles, 24/7, as well as 1,000 minutes of talk time to landlines in 45 worldwide destinations

There's also several added extras, such as voicemail, Caller Display and free Ex Directory.

Also, it's worth noting that you can get these call plans as phone-only plans – you don't have to be a KCOM broadband customer. The monthly price for a phone-only deal does jump up by a large amount, though.

All phone plans are available on a 12-month contract.

KCOM broadband review: TV

KCOM doesn’t offer TV packages, although its fast and stable fibre broadband speeds make streaming easy.

That means you can pick and choose streaming platforms – such as NOW TV, Netflix and Prime Video – and watch what you want without the pressure of a long-term TV contract.

KCOM broadband review: Extras

KCOM doesn’t come with any extras, apart from the chance to add home phone plans.

This is in keeping with more localised providers, who focus more on speed and customer service than offering free streaming service access or vouchers on sign up.

KCOM broadband review: Reliability and customer service

KCOM makes a big play of its local customer service teams. And as the main provider in the area, it needs to.

You can get in touch with them via phone or online form. There's also a KCOM shop located in Hull, so you'll be able to pop in to speak with someone in person.

Not to mention, it even offer British Sign Language interpreters through the InterpretersLive! service.

Unfortunately, KCOM scores fairly poorly on TrustPilot, with an average rating of 3.2 out of 5 (that's a score of, well, 'Average').

Pros and cons of choosing KCOM broadband

Pros

• Great range of FTTP packages

• Intimate knowledge of local area

• Smart Wi-Fi makes broadband even better

Cons

• Expensive

• Not much in terms of add-ons or free gifts

• Local monopoly in Hull means many have no choice but to choose KCOM

How does KCOM broadband compare with other providers? 

As KCOM holds a virtual monopoly in the area, many in Hull are unable to access service from the likes of BT, Virgin Media, Sky or TalkTalk.

While its speeds are a match for all of those and its FTTP service better than most providers, its prices do not compare well, leaving many customers frustrated.