Wetherup Street resident unable to get high-speed internet even though cabinet is outside his house

Eddie Payne of Wetheringsett who is unable to get broadband even though many of his neighbours have it.

A 71-year-old Suffolk man has been left puzzled after being told he cannot access high-speed broadband – despite living next to a fibre optic cabinet.

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Eddie Payne of Wetheringsett who is unable to get broadband even though many of his neighbours have it. Eddie Payne of Wetheringsett who is unable to get broadband even though many of his neighbours have it.

Eddie Payne has been told by his service provider, TalkTalk, that high-speed internet is not available in his area, following the fibre optic installation to the cabinet by Openreach earlier this year.

Mr Payne, of Wetherup Street, near Debenham, said: “They keep telling me it’s not available but it’s sitting right outside my door.

“Everybody else round here but me has got it and I’m the nearest person to it. I’m banging my head against the wall.”

Mr Payne, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had a hip replacement two years ago and is still recuperating. His wife, Mary, 69, suffers from pulmonary hypertension.

Mr Payne said his wife is due to go into Papworth Hospital and they are at times sent emails at short notice for appointments, which they sometimes find difficult to respond to fast enough. The couple also order items and do their banking online.

Mr Payne also claimed the internet speeds are slower than they were before the fibre optic installation.

He added: “Some companies won’t deal with you if you can’t be online.

“Everything we do with TalkTalk, like our bill, comes through online.

“It’s getting worse and worse – it’s supposed to be getting better.”

An Openreach spokesman said: “The complex work has been completed and customers can place orders for high-speed fibre broadband with their chosen supplier.”

A spokesman for TalkTalk said: “We are sorry we are not yet able to provide fibre optic broadband in Mr Payne’s area and hope to be able to offer it soon.”