Aus: Internet Upgrade

[JaconBacon]

This is aimed at my fellow Aussies, but anyone in the know about our infrastructure and ISPs would be welcome.

Our home internet is unbearably slow (speedtest.com tells me my dl speed is 2.21Mbps) and has been for years. Lately though it seems to fluctuate wildly and never for the better. Not to mention that this is all in perfect conditions. If there’s a breeze or a sprinkle, it tanks considerably. My issue is that our house is apparently as far from the distributor as possible while still being “technically” serviced, just because there’s SOME connection.

I’ve looked it up, and the NBN isn’t even planned to begin in my neighbourhood until at least the end of 2018 which is obviously way too far off. I’ve spoken to my ISP, and there’s nothing they can do about it. Any attempt to increase speed with them in the past has failed because of the awful lines / wiring in the streets to my house, and as any Aussie will know, Telstra refuses to do any upgrades or maintenance on these.

What’s my recourse? I hear there’s an NBN option involving satellites? Is there some other system that I’m not aware of? Who do I talk to about getting things rolling? Or do I just have to accept that this is the way things are as long as I live in this house?

[jmarket]

I believe @gus can help you here He’s a fellow Aussie as well as @Madmatt2006

[jmarket]

Hi there Jason, over the years I’ve has experience with TPG, Telstra and Optus, which seem to be the pick of the bunch. Like you Broadband isn’t anywhere near coming to our place and it will be a shame to pay more and get slower speeds when it does. Been with Optus cable now for several years for phones and internet and found them really good. Very few issues and the service is OK when you need them. The speeds shown below are pretty consistent on the Optus cable speedpack. You will need a Doscis 3 modem though which should be no big deal.

[ATTACH]1192[/ATTACH]

[JaconBacon]

That sounds promising, and I’m already with Optus for mobile; They offered me a great deal if I ever wanted to switch to them for internet too. My problem, as it has been explained to me by various telecoms is that the infrastructure to my house is the limiting factor. If I sign up for a new deal with Optus, will they be able to install the necessary upgrades to make these speeds achievable? Or will they just offer more speed on the same old damaged copper wires? If so, our current provider has already made that offer so I’d be just as well off staying as we are.

[jmarket]

If I sign up for a new deal with Optus, will they be able to install the necessary upgrades to make these speeds achievable?

I’m afraid you will have to call Optus to check availability. The connection I referred to above is Optus cable, NOT ADSL. It’s only a phone call to check, and if available there should be no reason you would not get the same speeds as shown above.

[veeg]

Do you have any updates for us?

[veeg]

Do you have any updates for us? After 48 hrs this thread will close.