[HN Gopher] Google officially launches Equiano subsea cable
___________________________________________________________________
Google officially launches Equiano subsea cable
Author : kaycebasques
Score : 68 points
Date : 2022-10-05 21:33 UTC (1 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (www.datacenterdynamics.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (www.datacenterdynamics.com)
| sixhobbits wrote:
| What does 'launch' mean when it comes to these cables. It is
| ready for use? Already has data flowing through?
| tobyjsullivan wrote:
| I'm speculating but that must mean data flowing through. If I
| understand correctly, capacity is leased to other tiers of the
| network. So "launched" would presumably mean that capacity is
| actively being sold and used now.
| [deleted]
| skybrian wrote:
| > The cable is scheduled to start carrying traffic at the
| beginning of 2023, says Paratus
|
| https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/07/africa/google-equiano-subsea-...
| yrgulation wrote:
| Any news of contributions to africa's development make me happy.
| I dont know how to describe the feeling. I see the continent as a
| hidden gem. I am saddened that europe didnt take such initiative
| and doesnt promote more substantial investment. It's literarily
| right next from us.
| dexwiz wrote:
| In related news Google announced South Africa as the location for
| its first Cloud Region in Africa. Some arguments I saw against
| this in comments was possibly poor global connectivity. Also some
| commenters lamented that Nigeria would also be a good candidate
| for a region. This cable looks to address both of those points.
|
| https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/05/google-picks-south-africa-...
| kungito wrote:
| Can Google cancel subsea cable?
| pacetherace wrote:
| killedbygoogle.com says hi
| FeistySkink wrote:
| Equiano is not shutting down. Rest assured we're always working
| on bringing more great content to the platform and Equiano Pro.
| Let us know if you have other questions.
| sirsinsalot wrote:
| I wonder how long before they cut it without notice leaving
| anyone on the other end stranded.
| annadane wrote:
| Google has a lot of failures of their own but they seem at least
| semi-committed to an open internet (with actual ethical
| standards), something I can't exactly say for Zuckerberg
| ajvs wrote:
| Open internet? With all their walled gardens and filter bubbles
| the idea is pretty laughable from Google.
| epivosism wrote:
| Looks like it passes close to null island, 0 long, 0 lat
|
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_Island aka
| perihelions wrote:
| I think they should make it wind a loop around at that point
| and see what GIS apps crash.
| bombcar wrote:
| $1 billion for an undersea cable that long seems almost ...
| cheap.
| missedthecue wrote:
| I agree. UCLA is building 1 dorm building right now and it's
| estimated to cost $1.5 billion. Being a Californian real estate
| project it will no doubt have cost overruns.
| paxys wrote:
| This cable would undoubtedly have cost many times that amount
| had it run along the west coast of the USA rather than
| Africa. People always forget about currency conversion and
| purchasing power when having such discussions.
| est31 wrote:
| There is a cable project currently ongoing for the east
| coast of the USA, called Confluence-1, to be finished in
| 2023. I wonder what their budget for that cable is.
|
| https://confluencenetworks.net/
| Rebelgecko wrote:
| FWIW the SEA-US cable occupies some prime beach town real
| estate in California and Hawaii and still only cost like
| $250m. I was looking at the cables that go along the west
| coast and the ones I checked were even cheaper than that,
| although they're old enough that inflation could be more of
| a factor
| systemvoltage wrote:
| No, it would cost more if it's not in USD. XXXUSD rates
| have gone up by 20% for a lot of currencies this year.
| paxys wrote:
| Unless you are paying the workers in USD that has no
| effect on the final price.
| systemvoltage wrote:
| I was referring to the cost of the materials. If we are
| talking about labor, sure. Most of the cost I presume
| isn't labor though. Materials are imported with a
| weakened currency.
| paxys wrote:
| Google's cash reserves are in USD. Either they are
| purchasing the materials in USD (so no difference to
| them), or in the local currency (which works out better
| when USD is strong). So either way a strong dollar is
| good for them.
| akmarinov wrote:
| To add to this, people would also likely forget that the US
| west coast is about 1/3 that of Africa's, so it'll get you
| only about as far as Nigeria. Africa is massive!
| bawolff wrote:
| Are you using local talent to lay the cable? I would
| generally assume you use the same crew and same boats all
| the way through, who probably dont want to be paid in local
| currency.
| zbrozek wrote:
| It would also not begin construction until 2044 when all
| the CEQA lawsuits are complete.
| tibbydudeza wrote:
| Is that the one with no windows funded by a billionare ????.
| benburleson wrote:
| No, that's the Munger project at UCSB.
| est31 wrote:
| It is a highly automated process. It is also not as highly
| regulated as other construction projects, as the cable won't
| kill anybody. There are also no vested interests that want
| internet connectivity to remain bad in Africa.
___________________________________________________________________
(page generated 2022-10-05 23:00 UTC)