Some of you know I live in the backend of nowhere. One drawback is horrendously slow internet speeds. Surviving on half a dozen different hot-spot dongles (if one is slow we switch to another, and another, and another, all on different networks). So… Was very surprised when a week ago a representative from one of Portugal’s providers stopped by to ask if we would like… FIBRE!
We have been stuck around 2mbps down and about 1mbps up (on a very good day), I know, in this day and age! But seriously we didn’t have any other options aside from the hot-spots.
I did a quick test on the popular Speed Test website Ookla, hitting a steady 1gbps down, and 500mbps up…
I called up the representative, after the install, and asked if he was in the local area. Hesitantly he said he was, asked if he could drop by my little house, with a pause before answering he said he would. Upon arrival he looked nervous to say the least as was prepared for a complaint, was sure of it. Instead I chucked him a 24 pack of beer and paid for his lunch at the local cafe. He left very happy and said I was the first to thank him in such a way after years of trolling the streets of Portugal for new business.
I’m a happy man! My wife is happy as she can watch English TV on the web and chat with her family on Skype without hinderance (usually I’d have to stop what I’m doing if one of her soap operas was on). Reminded me of the day I went from a modem to ISDN… Another day on which the tissue was out…
