Perth Voice Interactive

Interminable internet speeds, crackly phone lines and stuttering VOIP feeds are plaguing Bedford locals relying on an ageing copper network.

Shaftesbury Avenue resident Annette Park says the internet is hopelessly slow in her area and internet service providers have told her little can be done because the copper is so corroded.

Her phone frequently drops out, her daughter can’t do research for school, paying bills and banking requires a saint’s patience, and watching videos online is near-impossible.

Her federal Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan says there’s no way the Liberals’ broadband plan can work because the country’s copper infrastructure is so degraded.

“Parts of the network are beyond remediation,” she says. “Obviously we need fibre-to-the-home in these areas as a matter of priority.”

The Liberals’ NBN-lite—labelled “fraudband” by critics—will use optic fibre to the “node” (a box in the street), with copper between the node and homes.

Labor’s NBN had optic fibre going directly to homes, maintaining high speeds and ending reliance on the ageing copper network.

Along with dismal speeds, the limited capacity of copper is also becoming a problem: In Ms Park’s neighbourhood, no more connections are possible. If anyone subdivides and needs an extra phone line they may be out of luck.

Meanwhile as suburban areas see increasing infill, the copper-dependent internet is slowing due to increasing demand.

People relying on wireless are learning that the more people there are trying to bounce signals off a tower or dish, the slower the service gets, often dramatically.

Ms MacTiernan says the system is already struggling and will be hopelessly outdated before we know it.

Federal communications minister Malcolm Turnbull maintains the copper network can deliver 25 to 100mbps, despite heated criticism from IT experts.

However the Coalition concedes it will have to get rid of a small amount of copper that’s too degraded to carry its NBN-lite project, and instead provide those areas fibre-to-the-premises.

Under Labor’s plan, connection costs were borne by NBN Co. Under the Coalition, anyone wanting fibre to the home must pay, with some estimating the connection cost at between $2000 to $5000.

The Abbott government believes only nine per cent of the copper network will require replacement: Ms MacTiernan says that’s a huge underestimation. She’s calling on locals with sub-par internet speeds or crackly phone lines to contact her office on 9272 3411.

by DAVID BELL