Late yesterday afternoon, we suddenly lost our connection to the Internet. As of late morning today, the connection hadn't been restored. Our ISP claimed that they didn't know what the problem was, so they couldn't estimate when it would be fixed. I wasn't able to upload my latest podcast, or even check email.
There are several possibilities here. First, of course, there could have been problems with our equipment, but after doing Internet-less testing, it all seemed to be functioning properly. Next, our ISP could have a problem and, if it's that, they'll find it and fix it (we hope).
Forgive me for being such a hardened cynic, but I wouldn't be surprised to find the problem was with Telecom New Zealand, which owns the physical infrastructure that most ISPs are still using. Telecom has under-invested in infrastructure for years and it's becoming increasingly decrepit. They also have a well-deserved reputation for going slowly and indifferently when working with other ISPs' customers.
As part of government-mandated telecommunications reforms, customers can now pick any company for their home phone line even though the physical connections still go through Telecom's network for now. Our latest problems began when we switched our home phone to our ISP. Coincidence? Maybe. Or, it could be that our ISP has some sort of glitch in its connections to the Telecom network. But it's also possible that Telecom has done something, or not done something. After all we've been through with Telecom's deliberate game playing, delays and obstruction, it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out that they were solely responsible for our problems.
So, as we wait for someone, somewhere to sort out this problem, we have to rely on the kindness of strangers in order to access the Internet at all—sadly, not for the first time. For me, complete change in the telecommunications system can't come fast enough. We—and all New Zealanders—deserve far better than Telecom seems willing or able to deliver.
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