Having just read this, I'm wondering what the Chair at Chorus is smoking...

"In the latest poke from Chorus at telecommunications retailers, Strange said there some 179,000 customers on the fast copper line-based VDSL broadband service versus around 400,000 subscribers to the slower ADSL service, for which Chorus charges retailers the same price as VDSL."

Well thats strange Mr Strange, wonder why that is?

"Strange's comments follow guarded criticism by Chorus chief executive Mark Ratcliffe last week of Spark's promotion of wireless broadband rather than fixed line services, as the retailer seeks to carve out defensible market positions in the fast-developing telecommunications market."

That's really bad of Spark trying to steal your loyal fixed line customers isn't.

"The one thing Chorus can do is to take more of a role to champion broadband," said Strange, "

That's what I like, champion talk.

As a customer, a normal end user say, I hate the fact that I see VDSL available at my telco only to be turned down as they tell me Chorus said it isn't available. A few months later I see it is available on the Chorus website. So i apply again and get shot down in flames as I cannot get it, maybe due to high attenuation but they do not give an official reason - very helpful.

The truth is that some of us 400,000 plebs left on ADSL actually want VDSL but because of your lack of care for the copper network may never get the chance to enjoy VDSL and may still be left on copper in 2025 - god forbid. Spark Wireless and others maybe stealing your show because your act isn't up to scratch in the first place. Why should we pay the highest line fees for what essentially delivers a sub standard product by todays standards. Some here would say we have a world class broadband and in some respects that's true but when you're stuck on ADSL that doesn't compute.

But I do like champion talk and challange Mr Strange and Chorus to get me, and others, on VDSL, especially when your map shows I should be able to. Perhaps my incoming pair just need an upgrade from the 40+ year old pre-internet cable which we have coming into the house that is way past its best. That yellow and black wire was good in its day but not so much now. And just how good the copper in the street is, is really anyones guess.

Instead of blaming others, like the telcos, you should have a pretty good look in the mirror at yourself. If you want more people on VDSL then you should be doing whatever it takes to get them there and without cost to the end users - we pay enough as it is.