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July 05, 2005
Shouldn't we complain?
Over in another place, we've highlighted our concerns about the fact that in terms of Internet efficiency, Australia seems to be on a par with Kazakhstan. Which isn't good.
According to scientists at the University of New England, Australia simply doesn't have enough bandwidth, and suffers from configuration problems in its public switched telephone network.
Dr Robert Baker, leader of the research team, says the issue goes beyond the fact that Telstra has saddled us with broadband speeds that according to Helen Meredith's story - start at 512 Kbps and go to the giddy heights of 2.5 Mbps - [umm, isn't that a touch optimistic?] compared to US broadband speeds, "which typically start at our upper limit and go to at least 8 Mbps". Indeed, as Robert Ashman alerted us, the US is busily increasing broadband speeds to levels that are going to make you feel very glum indeed about the situation in the Lucky Country.
According to Dr Baker, "This is also about how the network is configured. In Australia, traffic has to go on a scenic tour around the country until it gets to its destination."
We've suggested that Solomon Trujillo might like to make fixing this debacle a priority. But that's not likely to happen unless it's brought to his attention. We should all probably be emailing him. And sending copies to the Minister for Selling Telstra, Senator Helen Coonan. And the Prime Minister.
And by the way, according to Crikey, Solomon's insisting that his new email address should be sol@telstra.com, despite the fact that that address has been used for solve-dockets. Crikey's source claims he didn't take too kindly to suggestions that he might find another one. He's given them eight days to make the change, which will apparently cost six figures. We must say that figures seems improbably high. Let's hope he's going to be just as insistent about improving the country's communications.
Posted by cw at July 5, 2005 12:25 PM
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Comments
broadband..?? in Australia..???
hahaha don't make me larf! Our largest telecommunications provider Telstra is as interested in spending the millions of dollars to provide their
customers (us!) with a world class braodband service
as is the government interested in making sure they do.....
basically its a joke and the new CEO, 'call me Sol'
of Telstra keeps making noises about customer service. Me thinks he will shortly learn what Telstra means by customer service. There isn't any......
Posted by: Ian Smith at July 5, 2005 04:02 PM