| Type | Trading name |
|---|---|
| Industry | ISP |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Kingston upon Hull, UK |
| Parent | KCOM Group |
| Website | Karoo.co.uk |
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.
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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 Internets 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 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.
Currently, Karoo provides ADSL broadband services to customers within the Hull and East Riding region with Kingston Communications residential line only.[1]
As of December 2011, Karoo offers six ADSL 2+ packages[2] offering 24mbps downstream and 1mbps upstream connection. Additionally, Karoo also provide (with parent company KCOM) four "Bundles" that provide both an internet and telephone connection[3]. All bundles include free local (to other KCOM users) calls, with an 24mbps internet connection with a 30Gb or 150GB data cap.[4]
Karoo provides web space and POP3 email services with all packages and bundles except "Karoo Lite"[5]
In September 2011, the company began a six month trial of a 100 mbps service in the East Riding of Yorkshire village of Woodmansey. Around 300 homes are involved in the trial.[6] The trial is part of a plan to roll out super fast broadband to more than 15,000 homes across the East Riding of Yorkshire.
KCOM also offer ADSL services to customers outside of the Hull and East Riding area under the Eclipse Internet brand name.
As of February 2008 Karoo Broadband had approximately 81,400 subscribers.[7]
See: Monopoly Issues
Karoo suffered criticism in 2009 for disconnecting users on illegal downloading accusations.[8]. However Karoo have since revised their policy, now operating a "three strikes rule", whereby a suspected file sharer will receive three written warnings before being disconnected [9].
Karoo was the home shirt sponsor of Premier League team Hull City A.F.C. from 2007 to 2009. Parent company Kingston Communications sponsors the stadium.
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