A Tarneit resident has been left flabbergasted after finding out she cannot get home internet access – and it seems she’s not alone.
Daniella Camillo has not been able to get either ADSL or NBN since moving from Warrnambool to Tarneit Gardens more than 10 months ago.
That’s despite trying numerous telecommunications companies, including Telstra, Dodo and iiNet.
Ms Camillo, a Star Weekly employee, has been told there are not enough ports in her area to connect her to the internet.
She said it beggared belief that she couldn’t get internet access in this day and age.
“I thought, it’s been 10 months; surely the problem has been fixed by now,” she said.
“I’m forking out extra money for data on my mobile because I can’t get fixed-price internet at home.”
Star Weekly used its Facebook page last week to ask residents if they had trouble getting ADSL or NBN at home.
It turns out there are plenty.
Leanne said she had also been told there were no ports available, and she was paying $49 a month for “a really unreliable” wifi connection.
“At times I’ve had to use my mobile phone as a wireless hotspot to be able to get in to the internet on my home laptop,” she said.
Erin said that when she moved to Manor Lakes six years ago, she “had to wait until someone left the neighbourhood before we could nab a port”.
Kristen added: “We moved into Manor Lakes without checking internet connection, thinking that it’s a major, important thing everyone has.
“Wrong! Bam, no internet available. The NBN isn’t available for another two years and Telstra won’t upgrade a dying network, therefore there are no available ports.”
Meanwhile, business owner Dean Rogers, who moved his store REMS RC from Brooklyn to Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing six months ago, said he was originally told he could not get internet access in store.
He eventually managed to secure an internet connection, but said he was lucky to get double dial-up speed. He has been told he faces an 18-month wait for NBN.
“I’ve got full HD cameras throughout the place, and I can’t get a good enough internet connection to view my cameras from home,” he said. “It’s been the most frustrating thing.”
A Telstra spokesman confirmed there were internet black spots within Ms Camillo’s estate.
A Department of Communications and Arts spokesman confirmed there were no available ADSL ports in Ms Camillo’s area, and said NBN would start to be rolled out in the area early next year.
“Telecommunications service providers are private companies and the availability of existing services is a commercial matter for these companies. The Australian government doesn’t have the authority to direct service providers to make new services available.”
