THE owner of units for seniors at Capalaba says the national broadband network is expensive and unsuitable for many aged people who rely on a home phone.
Russell Walker said many tenants were distressed at a letter from NBN Co that landline phones and internet networks would be disconnected as NBN was available.
“The NBN network will replace most existing landline phone and internet networks in your area, which will be disconnected in approximately 18 months,” NBN Co stated in the letter.
Tenant Eunice McRae said she was alarmed at the letter as she relied on her landline phone and did not have a mobile.
“Not everyone wants or needs NBN,” she said.
“I don’t need the internet. I manage quite well without it.”
She said she was told an NBN service would cost about $60 a month, while her landline costs $26.
Mr Walker has had to apply for NBN, instead of the asymmetric digital subscriber line, or ADSL, service he wanted for his office, as only NBN services will be provided.
He said one unit out of 21 in the complex used internet and about half the tenants used landline phones.
“Most tenants are pensioners over 65 and some are in their 90s and don’t even know how to work a mobile phone,” he said.
The NBN Co letter warned that equipment connected over the network would not work during a power blackout.
“Consider having an alternative form of communication handy (such as a charged mobile phone),” the letter stated.
“If you have safety-critical equipment (e.g. medical alarm, monitored fire alarm or lift emergency phone), speak to your equipment provider about alternative solutions.”
Mr Walker, who had worked in telecommunications, said mobile systems were overloaded quickly during power outages or emergencies.
“To rely on the mobile phone network is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
Mr Walker said it was only selected businesses that wanted NBN for faster internet speeds.
“If so, let them have it and let them pay for it.”
NBN Co’s Queensland corporate affairs advisor Lynette Keep said some services would be disconnected if customers did not arrange to move them to the NBN.
These included landline phone services provided over Telstra’s copper phone lines, all ADSL internet services and Telstra BigPond and Optus cable internet services.
“We clearly communicate this to people through about eight pieces of correspondence, including a registered letter that they have to sign for five weeks before disconnection,” she said.
