Aucklander waits one year for broadband

Nick Dentice (left) and Sam Thorne. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A central Auckland resident has slammed "Third World" services after being told he would have to wait up to a year to be connected to broadband internet.

Sam Thorne, who lives on Beach Rd, was told by Vodafone and Telecom that there were not enough lines and he would have to wait for more capacity. He said after moving into his flat two weeks ago, Telecom denied him access because its local internet exchange had run out of ports.

He sought services from Vodafone and Orcon. Vodafone explained its fixed line services were dependent on buying network space from Telecom, and there was none. He did not get a response from Orcon.

"I'm just shocked and amazed. There are Third World countries which can be connected quicker."

Telecom spokeswoman Katherine Murphy said the company was looking into this particular case.

She said that Chorus, Telecom's connection company, is currently adding net capacity to that area.

"It's going to happen in the next few months and absolutely won't be the 12 month timeline that was quoted."

Vodafone originally emailed to say it could give Thorne internet access. However, an hour later the internet provider emailed again saying its internet connection would be changed.

When Thorne's flatmate, Nick Dentice, called Vodafone to find out why its connection date had been changed, he was told Vodafone had run out of ports. It was the same story with Telecom.

Dentice said the problem was because Telecom owned all the limited internet ports and other companies had to wholesale their internet connections.

He said the plans for their 16 floor apartment complex had been made years ago, and so they had enough time to prepare for the increase in demand.

"They must have had time to work out they'd need more ports."

Thorne said he had called Telecom, but no one would give him a definitive reason why he cannot get access.

"It wouldn't be such a problem if they just told me. If I'd known this would have been such a problem, I wouldn't have moved to this area."

Vodafone was not available for comment last night.