Pac Rim Cable Damage Defies Repair [was: AFP article on Taiwan cable repair effort]

Wed Jan 17 15:47:14 UTC 2007

On Wed, 17 Jan 2007, Frank Bulk wrote:
> This article paints a rather dismal picture:
>
> Despite optimistic estimates that it would take only three weeks
> to repair the massive damage done to what are now said to be
> eight submarine cables by the Dec. 26, 2006, magnitude-6.7
> earthquake near Taiwan, reports today indicate that not one of
> the cables is back in service.
> http://www.telecomweb.com/tnd/21168.html

Earth is a single point of failure.

Telegeography has created a nice map showing the affected cables.
http://www.telegeography.com/wordpress/?p=45

NTT reports it has fully restored all its circuits through other routes. 
Other carriers in the region are reporting 80% to 95% of normal service
has been restored through other routes.

IP does not provide survivability UNLESS you have alternate, diverse
connectivity.  But alternate routes are often more expensive, higher
latency, i.e. less competitive.