POOR internet speed and connectivity issues is causing dozens of businesses in the region to miss out.
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Nearly 10 million Australians have experienced a problem with their phone or internet service, according to the the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and business owners are among them.
It’s an issue NSW Business Chamber Murray-Riverina regional manager Andrew Cottrill continually has raised with him.
At the end of last year, the organisation conducted a survey into the matter, which found some small-to-medium enterprises had lost up to $9000 during the switchover to NBN, subsequent drop outs and connection issues or having no internet at all.
Mr Cottrill said it was unacceptable in today’s day and age for businesses to be having to deal with this problem.
“It’s something our members are continuing to raise with us,” he said.
“Technology and the internet are extremely important tools for businesses and they need to be working properly.
“The issues businesses have experienced with the NBN just should not have been happening. They are losing out because of it.”
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman introduced a comprehensive survey for the first time in 2018 and surveyed almost 3000 people from across Australia’s residential consumers and small businesses. Painting a dire picture for small businesses was 60 per cent identifying a phone or internet issue affecting their business.
Many Leeton shire businesses have experienced internet issues, relating back to the NBN. Some, who preferred not to be identified, reported having no telephone lines, with customers unable to call them.
EFTPOS facilities have also been down, there’s been problems with ordering and the list goes on, according to Mr Cottrill. “It’s something the government really needs to address properly, we can’t have our businesses being impacted like this,” he said.