Residents quoted $10k for NBN upgrade their neighbours will get for free | A Current Affair

Summary

Residents of Glenmore Park in Sydney's West are facing a shocking reality: while some homes are being connected to fast, free fiber internet by the NBN, others are being quoted a staggering $10,000 for the same upgrade. This disparity has left many frustrated, with some residents like Ash, an IT specialist, questioning the fairness of the system. While NBN Co. claims the costs are related to the existing infrastructure, many feel the situation highlights an inequity in the broadband rollout.

Highlights

• Glenmore Park residents discover a $10K charge for fiber upgrade, while neighbors get it for free! 😲💰
• Ash, an IT specialist, faces a hefty bill for internet connectivity just three houses down. 🏡🔌
• The NBN rollout encounters unexpected challenges in ensuring equitable access. 🔄
• Local MP and residents demand fair treatment and transparency from NBN Co. 📢
• The situation exposes the complexities and disparities in broadband infrastructure upgrades. 🏗️

Key Takeaways

• Some Glenmore Park residents are quoted $10,000 for NBN fiber, while their neighbors get it free. 🏠💸
• Residents are frustrated by the seemingly arbitrary cost decisions made by NBN Co. 🎯
• NBN Co. claims the cost differences are due to existing infrastructure constraints. 🏗️
• Local MP demands a fair and balanced decision from NBN Co. ⚖️
• The situation emphasizes inequality in Australia's internet infrastructure upgrades. 🌐

Overview

In Glenmore Park, a suburb in Sydney's West, residents are shocked to learn that while some will receive a free NBN fiber upgrade, others are facing a massive $10,000 charge for the same service. The NBN, which promises high-speed, reliable internet to Australian homes, has sparked controversy among these residents, who feel the cost discrepancies are unjust and unfounded.

Ash, an IT specialist working from home, discovered he would need to pay an exorbitant fee to have fiber installed, despite being only three houses away from those receiving the update for free. The inconsistency has left Ash and others questioning the system's fairness, as local MP Melissa McIntosh steps in, urging NBN Co. to provide a more balanced rollout.

Despite NBN Co.'s explanation that costs arise from variable infrastructure needs, residents find the situation baffling. With the promise of nationwide connectivity by December 2025, this situation highlights the hurdles in achieving equal access to modern internet services and fuels a debate on the NBN's approach to fulfilling its pledge.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction: Unexpected Internet Costs The chapter opens with a discussion about unexpected and potentially exorbitant internet access costs, emphasizing the hypothetical situation where one might be charged $110,000 while a neighbor receives access for free. This scenario highlights the chaotic and seemingly regressive state of internet service accessibility and cost distribution.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Differences in Connection Costs The chapter explores discrepancies in connection costs related to the national Broadband Network (NBN) in Australia. Despite claims of free connections, some individuals located near the necessary infrastructure face exorbitant charges, such as $10,000, which is highlighted as madness in contrast to others who can connect for free. The issue raises questions about the equity and consistency of the NBN's pricing and rollout strategy, despite being touted as offering the fastest internet available in the country.
• 01:30 - 03:00: Resident Complaints and Experiences The chapter titled "Resident Complaints and Experiences" highlights the frustrations of residents in Glenmore Park, a suburb in Sydney's West, regarding their internet service. The residents made a shocking discovery about their internet connectivity issue. The internet in the area is described as patchy, a fact agreed upon by a resident named Tasa who frequently has to restart her modem. The announcement of a solution by the National Broadband Network stirred a significant reaction, as the context describes the situation as a 'click frenzy.'
• 03:00 - 04:30: NBN Co's Explanation and Criticism NBN Co has rolled out a new fiber upgrade to homes, replacing outdated copper connections. This new service is being promoted as a significant enhancement, offering much faster internet speeds. The transition is expected to be seamless for users, often involving a simple connection process as part of regular internet plans, at no additional cost. Publicity for the upgrade includes flyers and online advertisements, emphasizing that fiber is the future of internet connectivity.
• 04:30 - 05:30: Government Perspective and Financial Implications The chapter titled 'Government Perspective and Financial Implications' highlights a personal account from Ash, an IT specialist who works from home. Ash discovers that connecting to the National Broadband Network (NBN) will cost $10,000 to have fiber installed to his house, despite it being available just three houses away. This scenario underscores the limitations of NBN CO's pledge to connect Australia, raising questions about fairness and the financial burden on individuals.
• 05:30 - 06:00: Conclusion: The Ongoing Issue This chapter addresses the disparities in access to fiber-optic internet service in a particular community. It highlights the case of Leon, who is unfairly required to pay 10K for connection while his neighbors receive it for free. The chapter sheds light on the inconsistencies and frustrations faced by residents who find discrepancies in online access availability based on their addresses. The narrative captures a common sentiment of surprise and assumption among the community that upgrading to such services would incur costs, contrary to the reality experienced by some.

Residents quoted $10k for NBN upgrade their neighbours will get for free | A Current Affair Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 the last thing anyone needs right now is another bill so what if I told you you might have to pay $110,000 to access the internet and how's this your neighbor gets it free couldn't happen right funny that how much of a circus is oh it's it's absolutely crazy you'd imagine we were going backwards but that is not the case is
• 00:30 - 01:00 it they can get connected for free correct they can get connected for free correct but you right next to the Box can't get connected no $10,000 it is complete Madness roll up roll up the national Broadband networks in town and it's brought the fastest the best internet Australia's ever seen how much for this great wonder of the web you ask the NBN says it's completely free unless
• 01:00 - 01:30 it's not we're in Glenmore Park a suburb in Sydney's West the residents here have just made a shocking Discovery and put it this way they didn't use Google the internet here is patchy just ask tasa so I have to restart the modem now horrible so when the national Broadband Network came up with a solution it was is a click frenzy yeah
• 01:30 - 02:00 look the the latest one that you can obviously get is from mbn is their fiber upgrade fiber to the home the Winks of broadband so it's pretty fast oh yeah absolutely yeah it's way faster than the the crappy copper connections that you know we've been using for so long chances are you've got a flyer in your letter box or seen an ad online fiber is our future and you can connect for free on a normal internet plan but
• 02:00 - 02:30 when Ash and IT specialist who works from home went to sign up I found out it's going to cost me $10,000 $10,000 yep yep that's what mbn want me to pay to uh provide fiber to my house when it's available three houses away it turns out NBN CO's pledge to connect Australia only goes so far is that fair oh no not at all it's pretty this a joke I mean we we're not
• 02:30 - 03:00 living in the outback uh we're not living in a third world country Leon also has to pay 10K to connect yet his neighbors will get it for free what about these people here uh yeah they've got they've got free fiber to the Home Free fiber what about those people over there free fiber to the home in my backyard I'll put in my address and it says no I'll put in every other address and it says yes I was surprised it didn't cost me anything people assume that it's going to cost them you get the email that says you can upgrade to these
• 03:00 - 03:30 I was very surprised I'm I'm just saying I was very surprised that's good thank you and thank you a recent Senate estimates regarding the NBN heard the rollouts a big success we are focused on delivering that upgrade uh which is 3 and A2 million premises across Australia to be completed by December 25 of next year but it also exposed some big glitches how has it determined whether people able to get free fiber to the
• 03:30 - 04:00 premises or whether they'll need to pay $9,000 there are areas within the footprint that are highly uneconomical for us and that's determined based on pit and pipe infrastructure that's available in certain parts of suburbs uneconomical it's hard for father of three Leon to Fathom we we thought every was going to be connected um I think there are other options for us but why should we be left out people are right to be asking questions it actually does
• 04:00 - 04:30 sound like it's bureaucracy gone silly the local MP Melissa McIntosh also can't believe it the people of Glenmore parking Western C aren't asking for a handout what they're asking for is for the decision by the mbn to be fair and balanced it just makes no sense especially when the first half uh of this year we achieved a revenue of 2.75 billion up 5% on last year it's told Ash he'd be taking one for the team if he
• 04:30 - 05:00 paid up and if I pay that money then anyone else on my street can have it for free the internets is a complicated mindfield for novices you know you've got your Aussie you've got your belong you you got 25 Megs 50 Megs 100 Megs the problem here is really quite simple hang on a second what what are you saying all I got to do now is pull the bloody cable from there to [Music] here maybe a horse in cart might help
• 05:00 - 05:30 until then pockets of hardworking Aussies could well be stuck in the past cost $10,000 to get the cable from there to my home which is 20 M have you got a spare 10K L way way to connect the internet I have to win a lottery for that only 10K you know look I don't think they need their ass kicked but I think they need to have a good look at themselves absolutely it's Madness right
• 05:30 - 06:00 and the mbn accepts cost is a factor but lumping some families with a 10K Bill who can afford that