KEY POINTS:
Multimillionaire Jenny Gibbs is finally hooked up to broadband but other people sitting on Telecom's waiting list are sceptical about their chances of speedy service from the company.
Mrs Gibbs - who lives on Paritai Drive and has connections to Telecom's top brass - went public this week about her inability to get broadband from Telecom. Soon after the Herald article appeared, Telecom connected Mrs Gibbs while rivals rushed to show off their services.
The report has brought a flood of similar complaints.
Duncan Cameron, of Albany, has been waiting for broadband from Telecom for two months. It said he would be the first person to receive broadband if someone left Albany, making room for him to be connected to the phone exchange "but I think that is a standard line they tell everybody".
"I don't expect Telecom's truck to be zooming up to my house connecting me any time soon."
Rotorua residents Sally and Mike Garner were in a bind when they moved into their house four years ago and could not be connected to Telecom's broadband service.
"We had checked with Telecom before we moved in and were told it was possible. My husband works from home and is totally reliant on broadband," she said.
The couple still do not have broadband and Mr Garner has struggled to work over the web using a satellite system.
"I really wish there was another option."
Hamilton builder Garry Shuttleworth has been asking for broadband from Telecom for seven months but the company has told him his local Claudelands exchange is full and not to expect broadband until March next year.
He has been forced to install a satellite dish, which has proved to be unreliable, and pay $60 a month plus traffic costs.
"Telecom is one of those companies that everyone loves to hate and they have no one to blame but themselves."
Andrew Shakleton, an IT support worker, lives in Ahuroa, 50 minutes drive north of Auckland, and has been trying to get broadband from Telecom for two to three years.
But it has told him it was not possible to carry broadband on its network in the area. "Telecom do not appear willing to assist communities like ours in any way," he said.
Telecom has apologised to those waiting.
