Slow Internet Adieu

Back in October 2017, we were told we would be getting fast GB broadband internet infrastructure laid into our house at zero cost to us and we were not even obliged to use it. Part of a German-Bavarian-EU programme to speed up those who up until now have had less than 30MB connections. In our parish, I think some 60 properties are getting it.

Been a long process which I have documented a few times on Blip as they dug up roads in the village, field tracks, bored under the stream next to our house, dug trenches across our horse field, under the drive, through very thick cellar wall, up to ground floor.

Now today the final act. A tiny hole through the wall which I made with a wooden stick as the electrician who did our major rewinding had thoughtfully sealed the large hole he had to make with styrofoam. The Telekom engineer had to simply pull through one tiny fibreglass thread & connected it to some boxes. Sadly he was a typical techno-nerd, did at least connect it to our new router, threw a switch & left saying it will all set itself in a few minutes when the lights turn green. Have a nice day.

Naturally, it didn't & we had nothing. No telephone, no internet. An hour or so later it slowly all came together but little functioning as I would like. When I do have a WiFi connection it is amazingly fast. We have opted for a relatively slow 100MB package which should be more than enough for us. I need to work on the router.

But at least, it is here now, so very pleased & even more thrilling is that family in Ireland are also being upgraded for a simply dreadful 0.333MB copper wire to glassfibre in the next week or so after which we should be able to have our first video conference!