connectivity outside the US

Sat May 31 20:54:24 UTC 1997

Vadim Antonov writes:
> Actually, i do not understand why undersea capacity is so
> expensive.

Largely because to run a cable, you need to get permission from the
government at the far end to land the thing, and they don't give out
permission that freely.

> Cable is more expensive, yes; but the paths
> are much straighter, and there's no need to purchase
> rights of ways (except for shore-side strips).  There's
> no need to dig trenches -- you just drop the cable off the
> boat.

Not really that true -- you should read the "Hacker Tourist" article
by Neil Stephenson in "Wired" from last summer in which he followed
the laying of the FLAG cable. This was perhaps the only worthwhile
article in "Wired" in the last two years...

Perry