Why my Internet connection is horrible

TPG , probably the best-known, um, “budget” provider of Internet access in Australia, has released one of the coolest information design pieces I’ve seen in a long time. They’ve mapped out all of the telephone exchanges in the country on a Google Map (in itself a useful thing). They’ve overlayed that with the regions the the exchanges service (also quite useful). Then, as the coup de grâce, they’ve used actual data from their DSLAMs in each exchange to show the speeds that their customers in certain areas get.

I live about 5km away from the exchange I’m connected to. There are actually two other exchanges that are physically closer to my house! Turns out, for connection speed, I’m about average. I’m relieved to note that pretty much everyone else in my neighbourhood also gets lousy Internet access.