I had a variety of fun and games with Telefonica when I moved to an even more rural location near Loja.

We’re in a small valley which only has a DOMO radio phone system. I had read online that there were newer systems or even satallite options available through Telefonica. Needless to say, whether I contacted them in Spanish or English, they didn’t seem interested and that “my information was incorrect”.

When push comes to shove, it costs them money to roll out the newer systems in rural communities and areas, though in fairness they face a difficult task. They opened tenders for their rural internet services in 2005, but not a single company applied for the contracts.

I am now using a 3G mobile connection which to get broadband, I must use with a laptop within sight of the Parapanda mountain, usually this is done sat a couple of km’s from my house in the van. At home, the best it less than 50kb or dialup speed.

We’ll get there in the end. Some of the mobile companies are supposed to be investing in infrastructure locally, so there will be more options shortly. Although sadly at the moment, from memory I never used to get a good mobile phone signal around El Turro.

Even in the middle of London there are little ‘huts’ where phone equipment sits, sometimes exposed. Seems there are similarities in the unlikeliest of places.

But yes, you are welcome to link to me (I have linked to you already). I would be very pleased if you did. But I must warn you, I do not post very often here. I have so many other blogs to post to (I work on the internet), this one receives my attention much too rarely to make it a daily (or even a weekly) read.

We are stuck with Telefonica here. Because of the area (in the mountains and surrounded by more mountains), we are unable to pick up signals via anything but the telephone (apart from installing an extremely large and very expensive satelite dish on the roof, which would be as big as our roof terrace). Even to make a mobile phone call, we have to go to the roof terrace and hang over the edge

I have just had a long read of your blog. It is so full of great information (and your thoughts on certain subjects – which appear very similar to mine).
I will be back to comment soon

Glad you came by.

You guessed it…Telefonica!

A small fact that would usually mean the ruin of any company, other than telefonica of course. Ever since Señor Gonzales saw Thatcher privatizing everything and decided to do the same here, Telefonica has taken the proverbial cake in complaints every year, no small feat if you really consider things.

As a moral rule, if ever possible, I use competitors. I am now writing this over on-and-off Orange lines, but still get some sort of satisfaction that I don’t even pay Telefonica for the landline. Pleasure reading your post, it has given me an idea for one, possibly the most bizarre of all Telefonica stories.
http://troyshouse.blogspot.com

…wonders never cease!

Still, like the condom idea