Google has announced that it has joined a consortium to build a new trans-Pacific cable between Japan and California.
The Unity consortium is a joint effort by Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, Google, KDDI Corporation, Pacnet and SingTel and will initially increase Trans–Pacific lit cable capacity by about 20 percent, with the potential to add up to 7.68 Terabits per second.
Google’s Manager of Network Acquisitions, Francois Sterin, explains the deal:
“[Google's] participation in building Unity ultimately helps provide our users with faster and more reliable connectivity.
If you’re wondering whether [Google is] going into the undersea cable business, the answer is no. We’re not competing with telecom providers, but the volume of data we need to move around the world has grown to the point where in some cases we’ve exceeded the ability traditional players can offer. Our partnership with these companies is just another step in ensuring that we’re delivering the best possible experience to people around the world.”
Google was rumored to be in talks about participation in Unity in September 2007, although at that stage it was believed the cable would go to Australia via Guam.
I swear google is taking over the world. One region, one country at a time. In 10 years google will pretty much be the internet.
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This is pretty scary. Google has become the Big Brother.
Luckily for Google, there are many interpretations of its “Do no evil” motto to suit any and all of their needs.
Jon
http://woodmarvels.com - Create Unique Memories
I highly recommend this article by Neal Stephenson called Mother Earth Mother Board about transcontinental cables. It’s old, but amazing.
http://www.wired.com/wired/arc.....glass.html
Adding to the land based broadband capacity is nice, but it could be that the future of broadband is in satellites if the Japanese broadband internet satellite launch last week is an indication.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TE.....satellite/
Free Google Wimax 17MBIT connection. Wait for it, it’s coming..
This is good for Asia — presumably.
Lol, considering the latest bit of fiction I’m reading on my commute is Cryptonomicon
http://www. i-guide .ro
http://www. i-guide .ro
Didn’t Global Crossing do this 10 years ago? (and went bankrupt)
Our partnership with these companies is just another step in ensuring that we’re delivering the best possible experience to people around the world.”