My internet connection has been down on and off for the last 3 weeks and I've had to go through the rigmarole of speaking to numerous technical advisers.
I'm with BT which is fortunate in one way as when your router is not working, for instance because of an exchange problem, you can re-route via BT's 'open space'. But one of the problems with BT, like all other providers, is that it's privatised with competition rampant and profit the god at which all worship (or so it seems) and this can cause real difficulties.
In the 'good old days' when BT was a state concern service to the consumer via accountability was the key. So the issue which I'm confronted with now probably wouldn't have occurred then.(Although maybe the developments that have occurred in the last 20 or so years couldn't have happened without companies like BT not going private but that's another issue!)
My problem according to a BT engineer (who's been out to see me) is primarily an exchange one. A card at the exchange which my service is routed through needs to be replaced (?) owing to the volume of traffic. But such replacement will costs thousands of pounds. So its a waiting game. When the volume of complaints reaches a certain height then change cometh I get a better service...until the next time. (Shades here of a problem we have in this region related to local railways ie overcrowded trains!!)
OK you might say I could change my provider but I'm told by my BT adviser they'd probably be using the same equipment so no change!
It brings to mind the global quest for development growth at all cost with profit the driving force. The difference between this macro situation and mine is that my short term problems will probably clear up until the next time. However in the global context there's a massive danger if unsustainable development (notwithstanding economic cycles) continues - it'll create difficulties for us all which will be catastrophic for our children and grandchildren which won't go away - until the next time!
I'm hoping to highlight international hotspots related to these problems that are a real cause for concern in this blog next year.
I wish all readers a happy and peaceful new year - thanks for reading. And hopefully this year more and more of us will be questioning the viability of the sort of global economic development that charges along with profit as the prime mover without much care for our precious humankind and other species.
