The video that will make you think twice about your internet speed
WHEN an American is asked to use our slow and crappy internet, it becomes shockingly clear that we’re stuck in the Dark Ages.
A HILARIOUS video aptly titled ‘Wi-Fi Swap’ has painted Australia as a telecommunications backwater. The sad thing is it’s not that far off the mark.
In a six-minute skit posted to YouTube and Facebook and linked to a Change.org petition, an Australian and an American trade places to experience the differences in internet speed, cost and culture.
Christina, a PR executive from New York City, opens the video talking about her addiction to her mobile devices.
“If I’m not on my cell phone I’m on my tablet,” she says. “If I’m not on my tablet, I’m on one of my laptops. They’re my babies, my children. I named them Sophia and Robert.”
A world away, Aussies Tarryn and Darren admit they “watch a lot of telly”, mostly interrupted by buffering.
“On Game of Thrones night we’ll just watch a half-ep,” Tarryn says.
The video was created by the brilliant minds behind A.R.S.F.I.S.T, a movement highlighting the disparity between Australian internet speeds and the rest of the developed world. It finishes with Christina arrested for “a crime against the Copyright Act”.
Running from police she shouts: “How do you people live like this, oh God!”
The video is on trend with the group’s other messages, which subtly point out that things could be better Down Under if the web worked that little bit faster.
On Facebook they wrote: “Overseas visitors to Australia, make sure you pack a sh*tload of patience with you” and; “We’re the laughing stock of the developed world.”
Online, the group wrote that Australians are forced to work within a system that is “outdated, expensive and slow”.
“We strive to see an end to geo-blocking discrimination, we demand faster more affordable access to content and subscribe to the ideals of a free, fair and open internet.
“We are currently ranked 44th in the world in internet speeds. How are we supposed to compete with Slovakia, Thailand and Germany if we can’t even get a solid connection? Don’t even get us started about tha gad dam kiwis across the ditch. They are beating us in the Rugby, Netball and now the god damn Internet speed. Shame, shame, shame.”
According to British newspaper the Telegraph, Australia actually ranked worse than 44th in 2015. The UK came in 23rd, the US was 20th and Australia was a disturbing 50th place.
Ireland, Hong Kong, Sweden, the Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Latvia, Finland and South Korea made up the top 10.
The group also took aim at the government’s broadband rollout, a project launched by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as an alternative to the National Broadband Network but one that’s been plagued by slow rollout and cost blowouts.
On Monday, NBNCo, the government organisation tasked with creating one of Australia’s most ambitious — and at $46 billion, one of its most expensive — pieces of infrastructure, was forced to deny claims the project was heavily behind schedule.
In a statement, the NBNCo said it had met or exceeded every key target for six quarters in a row. This included having 2.6 million homes “ready for service” by year’s end, one million homes using the network and more than $300 million in revenue.
In their petition, the comedians wrote: “Don’t think that you’ve gotten away with it Mr NB f***ing N.”
News.com.au approached the video’s creators for comment.
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