What's on around Wangaratta - 15 May 2009
posted by Greg Naylor at
6:20 PM
|
0 Comments
Watchdogging the News
They only tell us what they want us to believe. We must look for the reality
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Broadband is costing us (Wangaratta)
Provider claims we’re paying too much, for too little, and it is costing Wangaratta business
Written by TRISH GALLAGHER. - source: Wangaratta Chronicle
BROADBAND that is too expensive and sub-standard is restricting business growth in Wangaratta, a local access provider has claimed.
WangNET’s Geoff Turnbull said there wouldn’t be a week go by without someone from Melbourne who is thinking of moving to the area enquiring about a broadband connection.
"It’s a shock to them when they find out what we have to pay, and how poor the speeds are, and that includes both domestic and business customers," Mr Turnbull said.
"There are a lot of potential businesses who change their mind about relocating here when they find out what the service is like..it’s costing us."
Mr Turnbull said he pays around $120 a month for sub-standard home internet access, 10km from Wangaratta, compared with his brother in Melbourne who pays $30 for a much better service.
He claims the problem is the structure of Telstra, which, unlike in the electricity system, both owns the network and has a retail arm, causing a conflict of interest.
"Governments have funded Telstra to provide ADSL at most Australian exchanges," Mr Turnbull said.
"When Telstra enabled all of its exchanges, it put in ADSL2+ equipment in most cases, but only enabled it to ADSL1.
"ADSL1 has a range of four to five kilometres from an exchange, and a maximum speed of eight megabits per second.
"ADSL2+, the minimum standard for most of the world, has a range of 15km at 20-24 megabits per second.
"Under the broadband guarantee and previous programs, the government said Telstra had to allow competitive access, so it makes only ADSL1 available.
"If a competitor wants ADSL2+, they have to put in their own equipment.
"As soon as this is almost complete, Telstra immediately switches the exchange to ADSL2+ and signs up customers to its own long contracts."
The solution, said Mr Turnbull, is to restructure Telstra to separate its network arm from its retail business.
"If the exchanges and network were owned by a standalone entity, there would be an incentive to build a better network, allowing all internet service providers to offer better services," he said.
"The government should immediately use its remaining Telstra holdings to restructure the organisation and buy back as much of the network as possible.
"At present, there is no incentive for Telstra to develop the network because it then has to give access to competitors, which it does not want to do."
posted by Greg Naylor at
11:46 PM
|
0 Comments
About Me
- Name: Greg Naylor
- Location: Euroa, Victoria, Australia
This Blog offers commentary on global and local media reports
Go to the Greg's view from Euroa for Greg Naylor's approach to life
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]
Previous Posts
- Next Election
- Turnbull brands Katter ad a 'shocker' | Herald Sun
- Newman ... the ultimate political arrogance
- Moyhu to create local service hub at memorial hall...
- Benalla patients satisfied - Benalla - mmg.com.au
- VIC POLICE FAIL: Police state hits school yard
- Sex abuse becoming the norm in Australia
- Carbon price - I'm not convinced!
- GOVT.FAIL.AU: Labor tough on whistleblowing
- Is your ADHD teenager trafficking drugs?
Archives
- June 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- December 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- March 2006
- April 2006
- May 2006
- June 2006
- July 2006
- August 2006
- September 2006
- October 2006
- November 2006
- December 2006
- January 2007
- February 2007
- March 2007
- April 2007
- May 2007
- June 2007
- July 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
- October 2007
- November 2007
- December 2007
- January 2008
- February 2008
- March 2008
- April 2008
- May 2008
- July 2008
- August 2008
- September 2008
- October 2008
- November 2008
- December 2008
- January 2009
- February 2009
- March 2009
- April 2009
- May 2009
- June 2009
- July 2009
- August 2009
- February 2010
- March 2010
- July 2010
- January 2011
- August 2011
- March 2012
- September 2012