Whangaparaoa a ‘pocket of isolation’ for broadband

Residents of Whangaparaoa are taking action over internet companies which “can’t be bothered” connecting them to a fast access broadband service.

Terry Betts, a resident of Pacific Parade, has been trying for many years to get broadband up and running in her area.

Betts organised a petition and after a meeting with Andrew Bowater, the Government and community’s relations advisor from Telecom, she was promised some action would be taken to change things.

This was months ago and she has not heard anything since.

“The promises they made was that we could receive mobile broadband for the same price and that the internet broadband would be installed in 2010. But this is not what we want. We want what the rest of Auckland is receiving without having to fight for it,” says Betts.

The Bridger family have lived in Army Bay for the past seven year and have been trying to get connected for the entire time.

Tom Bridger is an AUT University student who lives in Whangaparoa and is frustrated with having to travel 45 minutes, and spending $20 in petrol every time he wants high speed internet access.

“Most of the work I do is with IT, so I need high speed internet. I only have classes two days a week, but on my three days off I want to be doing work on my assignment and not travelling miles to do it.”

The lack of broadband is also affecting business professionals and home owners.

Linton Bridger, who is both a business professional and a house owner, believes his house price has been devalued because he cannot offer buyers broadband.

“We are a pocket of isolation. We have been abandoned and ignored. There is broadband all around Gulf Harbour, but yet we have been waiting for seven years. It’s just not good enough.”

“Going from working in an office with high speed internet, to home where it is dial up, is extremely frustrating,” says Bridger.