By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
LEOPOLD broadband customers fear their internet speeds are being manipulated because of capacity restraints at local exchanges.
Cameron Horne said his ADSL2 connection sped up after he complained to Telstra but fell back to lower speeds after a few weeks.
A friend who worked for the telecommunications giant told him his line showed as registering a fault, Mr Horne said.
“So I rang Telstra and they claimed there was no fault on my line but then the speed increases for a while.
“This has been going on for two years now. When I complain the speed increases but then it slows down again.”
Mr Horne said his fluctuating usual speeds of between two and four megabits compared to ward councillor Rod Macdonald who enjoyed more than seven on the other side of their street.
Mr Horne contacted Cr Macdonald after reading his call in the Independent for feedback on local internet experiences.
Last week’s Independent reported how property investor Adrian Ikin feared losing tenants from his student accommodation because he was unable to obtain broadband connection.
Cr Macdonald said the discrepancies highlighted Geelong’s inadequate internet infrastructure.
“I’ve been blown away by the despair of residents, including a number who have no internet at all.
“Others report patchy connections, where it slows, peaks or drops out, leaving them totally frustrated and driving them to distraction.
“The waiting lists are that long they’re just not going to get connected and it’s happening all over Geelong.
“It’s shocking – we’ll become an E-slum.”
