Australia - In need of a new Telco

Ok I know that I might have actually talked about this sometime in the last year or so, but I wanted to talk about it again purely because we have seen the big three telco's wipe out a number of its competitors, albeit third party companies that are Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), basically operators that utilise the big three telco companies networks to provide services to us mere customers.


One of the biggest MVNO's to have closed in the last 12 months was Kogan Mobile, who was basically unable to reach an agreement with Telstra after the big telco's wholesaler, ISPOne, went into administration after legal court case was started by Telstra relating to underpayment of accounts and bills.


We have also seen smaller MVNO's merge with other providers to leverage for better deals against the big telco's, which have resulted in some good deals being passed on to the end consumer, only to be later changed, terminated or in most cases, price hikes because of agreement terms for services changing between the big telco's and their MVNO counterparts.


But this is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak. There has also been a very slow yet rapid case of the big telco's cutting data allowance which is growing exponentially year on year. For example Boost pre-paid used to offer 3GB data on their $40 UNLTD pre-paid plan, but as of last month, that was cut to 2GB data. Telstra plans have slowly been cutting their data from their existing plans, whilst price increases continue to also come into the foray.


So the question to me remains, why do we as Australian's allow this happen?


The now former head of Optus in Australia, Kevin Russell, late last year at a conference said that the Telecommunications industry is in Australia has become a joke which sadly has meant that customer satisfaction is now at an all time low whilst the telecom companies continually gouge customers.


Before he left Optus last month, he had implemented a turn around for the nations 2nd biggest telco company through its My Plan consumer mobile plans, which are aimed at helping customers take the worry out of bill shock and personally I can see some value in this and hope that the other 2 major telco's will consider moving to this type of thinking, but I hold my doubts.


And its these doubts that fuels the idea for me at least, as to why we need more competition from another telco who is willing to build their own infrastructure to take on Optus, Vodafail and Telstra.


So which company would I like to see come to Australia, well there are a number, but the best would be between either Telefonica or T Mobile.


Why would I choose these companies?


Simply put I feel that they have the muscle needed to bring real competition into a marketplace where mobile growth is continually growing, but lack of real competition and innovation has stymied this growth as customers just feel they are trapped. I should know I am one of them.


But I would like to also see and hopefully think that two other Australian companies could build their own infrastructure and bring this needed competition to the marketplace. The two companies I am referring to are TPG and iiNet. For me, they offer some sort of real value, platform and if not the manpower but customer numbers to show that they could be a force to reckon with.


However I doubt this will ultimately happen as we see that the big 3 rather continue their strangle hold on the marketplace and consumers, continual gouge customers and really not bring any value to a market who is crying out for change.


But I can hope that change will come...........eventually.

So what is the problem allowing same sex marriage here?

So what is the exact problem of passing same sex marriage equality laws here in Australia?

I mean come on, most states in the USA, which I remind you are, well yeah "special" have passed laws, hell even most European countries, even our trans-tasman counterparts in New Zealand recently passed same sex marriage equality laws, so what's stopping us then?

Time after time I hear its because the church doesn't like it - tough bickies I say. Mean if they want to lecture us about God hating gays well then honey, your going straight to hell with us for wearing man made fivers (even if its half, your half way there. Aka polyester fibres).

Enjoying that shellfish - thats a ticket to Hell.

Cheating on your partner - Yep you guessed it, you're coming to the party down in the depths of fire breathing hell as well.

You maybe asking yourself why, well the bible does state that no man or woman shall wear man made fibres, beautify themselves (so make up is a big no no), Gambling, eating shellfish, all big no no's in the bible, yet I don't hear the church stopping everybody from doing that (probably because they do it themselves - bastards!).

But honestly if its ok to wear man made fibres, put that foundation on along with lipstick and your eye liner, gamble, even drink alcohol, swear, hell even eat those delicious lobsters and oysters pst of us like, then why is it such a bloody big problem allowing same sex marriage?

I mean really what is the god damn fucking problem?

It just honestly gets to me that all my other friends, who are straight, can get married, have kids yet as a openly gay man living with my loving partner for the last 4 years and being engaged for the last 4 years as well, can be denied marriage because I love someone of the same sex!!

Its just wrong. This isn't the 1950's which most people like to pretend we live in for some fucking reason.

Sorry to rant on but I don't see what the problem is and I am sick of people like Fred Nile (who honestly is quite past it and should be a retirement home for the narrow minded wankers) argue saying the bible doesn't allow it whilst they themselves sin just bad if not worse than the whole gay community combined.

Here's hoping sanity and common sense will prevail...........someday, hopefully!

The NDIS Levy - It's about time

Ok over the last week or so, I have been hearing a heck of a lot about the incoming NDIS levy and why it is such a bad thing, for their ego and precious money.

My reply - Bitch please, shut the FUCK UP!!

The NDIS or Disability care is something that is hugely required now and is well overdue. For someone who has a disability, when I hear someone say people with disabilities get everything, I really wanna just slap them Ally McBeal style because it's not true.

For example, a new wheelchair can cost from about $5,000 (as a basic chair) well up to the hundred of thousand dollars which yes, some people can get their chairs through Enable NSW (of which I am lucky this time round I can, but the next time I might not) simply because we may earn to much or work full time or part time.

It's not easy and cheap to have a disability, the costs all add up and quite frankly anyone who tells me that they could do it, I would like to see them try.

For example, I have to wear pads (yes as in pads women wear) and  just for one pack it can cost up to $20-$30 depending on where I get them from and thats just for a pack between 20 and 38. Now times that by about 6 or so packs, its a lot of money. Then add on top the cost of a single catheter which I also have use. Now they cost up to $2.50-$5.50 for a single one, yes single one. Now times that by 100.

The costs all add up at the end of the day and for someone with a disability who may just only get the Disability Support Pension (or DSP as it is known), that whilst they get say roughly $800 a fortnight, that money has to not only pay for these medical expenses, but shopping, transport, rent and maybe, just maybe basic health insurance so they don't have to be on long waiting lists at hospitals for surgeries etc. The costs all add up and it's not far.

So excuse me when I say that anyone caught knocking the Levy, think about this, how would you survive as someone with a disability with all these expenses??

I sure know the answer cause I have done it and still are somewhat even though I working part time.

Its time we just accepted that the NDIS is coming and the levy is needed for it to be paid to ensure everyone with a disability has a better chance in life and can have the pressures and burdens of these issues lifted if not helped to be partly reduced.

Sorry but I had to just get it out there because I am sick of the knocking down by the press and certain public figures on TV, News etc.