Angry New Zealand IT industry supports Stephen Fry

Members of New Zealand IT industry are giving support to actor Stephen Fry who called New Zealand's internet broadband service 'pathetic'.

Actor Stephen Fry who is in Wellington filming Sir Peter Jackson's upcoming movie, The Hobbit, vented in a series of tweets on social networking site, Twitter, yesterday, about his New Zealand's "pathetic" broadband service.

Mr Fry tweeted "Rise up, Kiwis and demand better? You wouldn't allow crap roads with pot holes and single file. Hats what youve got BBwise a smart guy could."

Adding fuel to the fire, high-profile members of New Zealand's high-tech industry have vented their own frustration on social media networking site, Linkedin, about Fry's tweets, criticising New Zealand's backward slide into technological oblivion.

IT Risk Manager at Vero Insurance New Zealand, John Duckett vented "It is a ridiculous situation to be in considering our historic record of trail blazing new technologies."

"In the 80's we were using ATM Banking way ahead of the UK. In the 90's we were the 3rd highest subscribers to the Internet per capita. Currently NZers have more Facebook "friends" than any other country. Yes I know a lack of competition and a lack of investment in infrastructure are real weaknesses. However we have many more strengths and it amazes me how we have let ourselves become so closed, pessimistic and protective over the last 10 years. It is time everyone woke up and remembered this country was built on innovation, taking risks and being first to the top.

Mr Duckett added "Wow...did I say all that out loud?".

Sales Manager for Triple Play Solutions Mike Dagg wrote online "He's right and will probably always be until successive governments stop kow-towing to Telecom and foster true competition in the market".

Mr Dagg said Telecom had made "some progress" with unbundling the network, and "the break up of telecom and chorus", but "recently watching Maurice Williamson try to shift the blame for unsafe building on to the messenger was typical of how he cuddled up to telecom during his time as communications minister. support the competition if you can."

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