I decided to compare our satellite internet with the rest of the world. This is what I found:
'Average' Internet Download Speed:
South Korea 14.2 Mbps
Japan 11.7 Mbps
Hong Kong 10.9 Mbps
Australia 4.7 Mbps (although average peaks were 30 Mbps)
Global Average 3.1 Mbps (117 countries)
Our Farm 1.8 Mbps (speed test - not sure of our average)
Indonesia 1.5 Mbps
India 1.4 Mbps
So to put this speed into perspective for anyone who doesn't understand. I recently tried to watch an episode of a 'soapie' I had missed. Without adverts the show is 20 minutes long and I attempted to watch it in 'blibs and blobs' in between frozen moments of several minutes. After an hour I gave up and logged off without seeing the end. Now, of course, my 'soapie' obsession is not important, but what about University studies, viewing farm machinery demonstrations and trials and don't even go there with Skype!
My husband and I have always had a bit of a bad taste joke 'we live in a 3rd world country'! Well, the above figures seem to suggest we actually do, or many farmers do!
Now, I don't mean any disrespect to developing countries, but I live in Australia, the country that was built on the 'sheep's back'. Surely in this modern world of 'entitled' people, our farmers would at least be entitled to the 'global average' of internet speed?
Thankfully, the Liberal Government are back with their mobile phone black spot program. I am putting my faith in Malcolm Turnbull to improve the communication access of farmers and rural/remote communities.
In this world of 'immediate communication', many farmers are left behind and I have no doubt it is affecting our 'bottom line'.
Sad thing is, I don't think we'll ever catch up!
Some random photos below
It took about 5 minutes to upload these 2 photos and the mornings are usually the quickest time to use the internet.  |
| Old Shearers Quarters on the Farm |
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| View on my way into Tumby Bay on a hot day in January this year |
