UUNET Press Release on Peering

Mon May 12 17:53:13 UTC 1997

Strikes me that the terms "diversely routed" and "geographically diverse" 
can be interpretted wildly.

For most networks, I don't see a real problem dropping a couple extra 
pairs of DS3s (assuming they were only at two NAPs to begin with). 

If UUNet requires a DS3 interconnect at LINX, MaeWest, MaeEast and say 
(for giggles) Australia -- AND a diversely routed DS3 backbone in the 
U.S. that takes on an entirely different meaning than the above. 

Also note that a DS3 interconnect between UUNet and a potential peer's 
network does NOT imply multiple DS3 connections [feeding either the UUNet 
or peer's side].

This does seem remarkably less stringent than the first foray of press 
did. 

Any other opinions?

-Deepak.

On Mon, 12 May 1997, Kent W. England wrote:

> UUNET issued a press release today on their peering strategy. It is located
> at:
> 
> http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/97/05/12/wcom_x000_1.html
> 
> The gist of the press release is that UUNET will peer with anyone who has 
> "a national network with a dedicated, diversely routed DS-3 (or faster)
> backbone, and which will connect to UUNET at DS-3 or greater speeds in at
> least four geographically diverse locations." UUNET is being taken
> advantage of by "small regional ISP's and companies which provide ``web
> server farm'' services rather than Internet networking." and must protect
> itself from abuse of its backbone.
> 
> Sounds like they are backing off, since this line of reasoning (modulo
> bandwidth and number of interconnects) has been standard procedure for all
> the national backbones since the end of the NSFNET. However, if you read
> the fine print about "a dedicated diversely routed DS-3 or faster backbone"
> that lets out all the "no money down instant backbones" that many smaller
> national ISPs and web farmers have built of late.
> 
> Are they still insisting on NDAs before talking?
> 
> --Kent
> 
> -------------
> Monday May 12 8:32 AM EDT 
> 
> Company Press Release
> 
> UUNET details peering strategy
> 
> Changing Internet economics prompt new policy
> 
> FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 1997--Stating that the economics of
> the Internet have changed radically in the past few years, UUNET
> Technologies Inc., the world's largest Internet service provider and a
> subsidiary of WorldCom Inc. (NASDAQ:WCOM), today detailed its policy
> regarding peering with other ISP's. 
> 
> The company said it will continue to peer with ISP's that can route traffic
> on a bilateral and equitable basis. However, UUNET will no longer accept
> peering requests from ISP's whose infrastructures do not allow for the
> exchange of similar traffic levels. 
> 
> ``A few years ago all ISPs were generally the same size and used each
> other's infrastructures to a more or less equal extent,'' said John
> Sidgmore, president and chief executive officer of UUNET. ``Today that
> situation no longer exists and consequently there are many cases where
> peering is not appropriate.'' 
> 
> One of the major principles of UUNET's policy is to peer with ISP's that
> operate a national network with a dedicated, diversely routed DS-3 (or
> faster) backbone, and which will connect to UUNET at DS-3 or greater speeds
> in at least four geographically diverse locations. Peering is an
> arrangement whereby ``peers'', or ISP's of similar size, route each others'
> traffic to destinations on their respective networks. Because the flow of
> data and use of infrastructure are anticipated to be approximately equal in
> both directions, no money changes hands in peering relationships. 
> 
> UUNET said it has received numerous peering requests from small regional
> ISP's and companies which provide ``web server farm'' services rather than
> Internet networking. These are, in effect, requests for UUNET to provide
> national and international data transport, as well as connectivity and
> support services, to companies which do not have the ability to provide
> similar services in return. Essentially, companies requesting peering in
> these situations are seeking to use UUNET's network for free, after UUNET
> has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to create its infrastructure. 
> 
> ``This is a purely economic decision,'' Sidgmore continued. ``We are 100
> percent in favor of interconnection and won't deny access to anyone.
> However where the use of our respective infrastructures would clearly be
> imbalanced, we cannot reasonably be expected to provide our transport,
> route management and support resources at no charge.'' 
> 
> For those ISP's, or web server farms, seeking transport and route
> management services from UUNET, but which do not qualify as peers, UUNET
> offers wholesale connectivity services beginning at monthly rates of $2,000
> for T1 connections and $6,000 for fractional T3 connections. UUNET
> currently provides such wholesale connections to several hundred ISP's. 
> 
> UUNET's network consists of a global backbone with multiple DS-3 (45
> million bits per second) links on all major routes. It has an aggregate
> capacity well in excess of 5 gigabits per second. UUNET recently announced
> it was making a $300 million investment in its infrastructure which would
> quadruple dial capacity and raise the speed of backbone routes to OC-12
> (622 million bits per second), dramatically increasing capacity. 
> 
> ...
> 
> 