Broadband in a Bad Way
It disturbing to read that at present for internet traffic to travel from Hobart to Melbourne is six times more expensive than the same traffic going from Melbourne to the USA. Thanks to Telstra charging monopoly prices on traffic across Bass Strait national ISPs are pulling out or restricting their services, my own ISP being the latest to cut offerings although to their credit they are not leaving existing customers in the lurch and is trying hard to find a viable solution.
Its interesting to see that it is also having an effect on other organisations with internet betting company Betfair expressing concerns over the whole state of internet access in Tasmania and i am sure that it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Now the worst thing about the whole situation is that there is an alternative sitting idle right now as i write this. Unused and idle. It should be a crime but instead its not. There is the Bass Link Cable which carries on some of its circuits power to and from the mainland power grid and the rest of the circuits are not being used. And even better, the State Government pays for some of the circuits which are not being used to keep them vacant or something which just helps to keep Telstra’s monopoly going. Glad my taxes are being used so usefully.
It seems though that with things coming to a head, a conjested head at that, that a consumer action group has been founded with the aim of voicing consumers views and concerns. Digital Tasmania has been created and i for one am interested in seeing them succeed. They can be found online at digitaltasmania.org and while i am not able to offer financial support right now, i am going to link to them regularly and my Hobart and Bicheno feeds will soon be carrying information about them
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