We’re doing the quandary thing at the moment, pondering the massively significant question as to whether or not we should swap our phone and broadband from British Telecom to Virgin Media. Not the TV, you understand. We’re perfectly happy with our FreeSat TV service, not least because it’s FREE!
No, it’s the broadband operating speed question. BT struggles to give us 2mbs and sometimes ‘caps’ that to 0.5mbs. BT has no plan to upgrade the service in the foreseeable future, and neither speed is sufficient to power high definition video. More and more, my use of the Internet is as an access to interactive multi-media. Running under the pavement outside the house is the Virgin optical cable offering up to 50mbps and, if you take the premium level of service, no capping of the speed or limits on downloads.
Virgin also offer a phone-line as an optional extra to the package and cost is comparable.
Does this sound like a no-brainer to you? Well, of course, it is. Except for the embarrassing fact that BT, as my last employer, pays my pension and, dear, sweet, old-fashioned chap that I am, I feel considerable loyalty to the company, and much reluctance to desert them as my telecommunications provider of choice.
So, during this past 48 hours of capped service–I watched one too many time-shifted TV programmes on my computer the other day–we’ve been weighing pros and cons and any passing squirrel, hoping to come to a decision. Graham, bless him, completely understands my loyalty issues and says he’ll go along with my decision.
I’ve done my best to get advice from BT but all my old contacts are grazing their own pension plans and cannot help. I tried asking BT the institution but the instant I mentioned ‘broadband’ I got referred to a lovely lady in India who simply didn’t understand my problem. Which was fine because I could barely understand her English through a very heavy Mumbai accent.
What to do?
I am firmly of the belief that a commercial enterprise that fails to provide proper levels of service and to upgrade them as technology advances deserves to fail. BT is a big, profitable company and won’t miss my pensioner’s mite. Or notice me at all, I suspect.
So, really, it’s a question with only one answer and a problem with only one solution.
I hate it when the modern world ups and slaps me in the face, forcing me to pay attention, and challenges my long-held belief systems. Mostly I smile bravely and turn the other cheek, just as I’m supposed to do. This one, though, requires not only the other cheek but a good slice of my nose, too.
Oh, to hell with it. It’s not like I can’t change my mind at some future date and revert to BT. I shall go and tell Graham that I’ve decided we should drop BT and go with Virgin. I don’t think he’ll argue.
