By Casey Neill
Greater Dandenong Council is seeking answers on slow internet service for frustrated residents in Keysborough South and Dandenong South.
At the Monday 12 September Greater Dandenong Council meeting, Councillor Matthew Kirwan moved a notice of motion regarding internet and mobile telecommunications problems.
Councillors agreed to write to the Federal Government, relevant telecommunication authorities and relevant telecommunication providers asking for action on the issues of internet choice and performance and mobile reception.
Keysborough South’s Emmanuel Vella said he’d spoken to Telstra about his internet issues on many occasions over the past 18 months.
“What happens in the Keysborough South area is we’re locked in with a Telstra Velocity smart community hub,” he said.
“With that there is no other provider that you can go with.
“You can’t get cable, you can’t get ADSL because it’s all fibre.
“The only other thing you can get is satellite and satellite is really expensive.”
Mr Vella said he was paying for 100 megabit speeds but was only able to access 25 megabits “on the best day”. He said the exchange was too congested.
“The estate’s not even finished yet. Can you imagine in another six months’ time how bad it’s going to be?” he said.
He said Telstra has been unable to tell him when the issue will be fixed.
“They offered me a credit. I told them I wasn’t after just cash, I was after a resolution,” he said.
“I want the service that I’m paying for.
“I want to know when we’re getting the service happening, and I can’t get an answer.”
Cr Kirwan said residents in the Meridian Estate in Dandenong South and the new estates in Keysborough were frequently reporting problems.
He that in the case of the new estates of Keysborough, “this at least partly due to Telstra not upgrading the local exchange to cater for population growth”.
“Many operate businesses from home which are impacted by this,” he said.
“In terms of mobile reception, since the implementation of the sound barriers on the Dandenong Bypass, residents in the new estates of Keysborough are frequently reporting they have little to no mobile coverage inside their homes.
“One provider has confirmed that a tower upgrade at Parkmore is not due for at least 18 months.”
A Telstra spokesman said he had no comment on the issue.
