With the increasing demand of services that require an internet connection, home buyers are now taking into consideration the internet speed and capacity of the new neighborhood they are eyeing for.
“When people come to us, they say they have read reviews about the internet … and we are very upfront,” said Andrew Phanartzis, a real estate agent in Wentworth Point.
Phanartzis is currently handling 260 properties in Wentworth Point estate, an area that has been experiencing fluctuating internet connection, internet speed drops and inaccessible phone lines for the past six months. He has also experienced that a potential home buyer backed out at the last minute after doing their own research about the internet service.
“Originally the infrastructure they had was enough to cater for everyone, but the place has just exploded with the volume of units,” he said.
LBNCo is the network provider in the area and even though it has 10 service providers, the residents have only access to one provider, Fuzenet, which is also known as Homelinx.
“It shouldn’t matter if my service is with Optus, Homelinx or Fuzenet. I should be able to expect the same level of service. And yet there is a considerable difference between these parties,” said Jo Patterson, a resident of Wentworth Point.
Another resident, Tim Ball, who has already resided in the area for eight years, has noticed a decline in service capacity and internet connection. He has labeled his internet “pretty much useless” since the provided upload speed can’t send emails or even refresh web pages.
“There has been no communication. People are still getting their monthly bills for services they don’t have and, when you inquire about a discount, there is no response,” Ball said.
Homelinx general manager Rowan Morrison said that the provider had recently received numerous complaints which all arrived during the upgrading period of LBNCo.
The upgrade has taken a lot of demand on the provider’s resources to deal with the stacking complaints and issues, in which they “significantly regret.”
Phanartzis said that it would be a good thing for residents if they have more choices in the area.
“It’s just the consumer frustration that in this day and age, you can have 3000 people who literally only have the option of one provider,” he added.
With the internet now considered a vital part of everyday life for working parents and the children with their ongoing studies, internet and its service quality is now either a selling point or a deal breaker for residential property deals. For home shoppers or brokers, knowing whether the national broadband network is available within the estates offered in the neighborhood is a definite advantage.
