Rolling out high-speed broadband in East Maitland will not fix the problems with internet service that many people are experiencing across the region, a Maitland-based telecommunications technician says.
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The federal government announced this month that work would soon begin to deliver the National Broadband Network to 2400 premises in East Maitland.
But Larry Wilson, a resident with 20 years as an information technology technician, said East Maitland was not where people had problems with internet service.
“It’s almost a situation of believe it [the NBN rollout to East Maitland] when you see it,” he said.
“East Maitland is an area where it is not particularly needed.”
The Mercury has received numerous messages recently from people who are unable to connect their homes to ADSL or have substandard download speeds.
Twelve residents have contacted Mr Wilson since he called for people to come forward to share their internet-related problems earlier this month.
He plans to establish a lobby group to campaign for increased and improved ADSL broadband service, particularly in problem areas such as Morpeth, Tenambit, Thornton, Metford, Beresfield, Largs and Aberglasslyn.
“I’m in the process of contacting those people,” he said.
“I’m going to talk to them to get a better handle on the areas that are affected.
“Then there will be an analysis phase to get some substantiated facts together.”
Mr Wilson still wanted people to contact him if they had poor internet service or were unable to connect their homes to ADSL.
“I would suspect there are probably more people [with internet problems] but generally there is a certain degree of apathy until the issue is biting them on the bum,” he said.
“Once we get 50 to 100 people in one local government area, it will make it a significant issue.”
People who want to share their stories with Mr Wilson can contact him via email at larrywilso@gmail.com
