Online Business Broad-Banned

Star News Group:

JANELLE Rhodes’ burgeoning online business is bleeding $1000 a week after she was denied access to an ADSL broadband network when her family recently settled in Cranbourne.

The Rhodes family moved into a Brooklyn Greens estate home last Sunday, but were soon told by Telstra that no ADSL ports were available at the local telephone exchange.

A Telstra spokesman has advised Janelle to consider connecting to a wireless broadband connection instead.

Janelle, founder of Blissful Kids Parties, said her booming online-only business was in jeopardy.

“With no broadband internet access, I’m losing about $1000 a week, and don’t know how I’ll survive the next month,” she said.

“We lived in Brooklyn Greens four years ago and had no trouble accessing a broadband connection. We’ve moved back and it could be a year before a port becomes available at the exchange,” Janelle said.

“The population has boomed, but the internet services have remained as inadequate as ever.”

Blissful Kids Parties was taking more than $2000 a week in orders, in what was an almost full-time job for the mother of two.

In a desperate attempt to stay on top of site maintenance and orders, Janelle is frantically booking internet sessions at the Cranbourne Library.

“Access at the library allows me to keep my head above water, but I can’t update listings on the site,” she said.

“It’s an absolute disaster.

“We’ve got dial-up connected at home, but it’s too slow to do anything.”

Janelle was offered a wireless internet connection product, but at a much higher price.

“It’s much more expensive, and I have to sign up for 24 months. I was paying half the price for double the monthly data allowance,” she said.

“I don’t want to enter into a wireless contract. I should have access to ADSL.”