Are we back to dial up internet speed?

Oct 07, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Internet for this year 2017 has been slower than usual and very slow for the last four (4) months as if we are regressing in technology while the world is speaking advancing. Is this the 4G network speed that was touted as the biggest thing in internet? I can remember the hype when village by village was eagerly awaiting the 4G internet service that was rolling out in the not so distant past. The rates at that time were jacked up to match the demand and Guyanese grumbled but still pay because of the expectation of the 4G which was supposed to download with lightening speeds.
Well I can tell you that 3G is faster in other countries than our 4G. Some organization should investigate the fictitious terms adopted by these outrageous Companies to deceive the Guyanese citizens as if we are locked away in one corner of the world and we cannot understand the technological advancements happening around elsewhere. Guyanese do travel as well as their families and they can tell you about internet speeds and internet rates. Our 4G internet is compared to 2G in other countries but still we are paying a higher rate than the 4G countries. The internet is so slow that it reminds one of the time when we had dial up service.
It is very suspicious that the Blaze package is rolling out at the same time when the 4G speed grinds to almost a halt at 2G speed. It is a predetermined strategy aimed at forcing Guyanese to switch. This move is very predatory to the populace as the Blaze costs almost double the current package of the so called 4G. How stupid are we in their eyes. Will the company compensate us for the short change we endured, considering that we have to pay reconnection fee at the slightest delay in payment of fees and have your service disconnected? In fact, almost daily the internet is off for parts of the day; nevertheless, Guyanese are not compensated.
This brings us to a larger question since the internet is not a luxury anymore as the Phone company probably still thinks. More people and companies depend on it for their business and other forms of communication. The magnitude of this sector is so huge that it should not have been placed in a single company’s hands but managed from a Governmental level. Unfortunately, successive governments have allowed one company to control a vital resource for development of the country.
One cannot be blamed to speculate that the internet service contributes to our country’s lack of development. Guyanese should wake up to the fact that the governments should take equal blame for the state of the dilapidated internet service. We have had excuses upon excuses about liberalizing the sector but the reality is that there is a secret agenda between the two players and lots of money is passing around to keep the internet in this sordid state. In fact, the internet is a good point for any opposing political party to add to their campaign for elections. It can generate lots of interest and sympathizers.
Andrea McBean

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