Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!tuvie!iiasa!wnp
From: wnp@iiasa.AT (wolf paul)
Newsgroups: eunet.followup,comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: Internet routing Europe -> USA -> Europe...
Message-ID: <867@iiasa.UUCP>
Date: 31 Aug 90 10:49:51 GMT
References: <1990Aug30.091435.1982@ircam.ircam.fr>
Reply-To: wnp@iiasa.UUCP (wolf paul)
Organization: IIASA, Laxenburg/Vienna, Austria, Europe
Lines: 30

In article <1990Aug30.091435.1982@ircam.ircam.fr> mf@ircam.ircam.fr (Michel Fingerhut) writes:
)While trying to find whether we (in France, Europe) could reach a site
)in Germany (Europe), I got the following route from traceroute:
)
)I.e.: Paris -> South France -> NJ -> PE -> Ithaca (upst. NY)->
)      Syracuse (upst. NY)   -> NYC, NY  -> ? -> Deutschland
)
>Why this contorted route?  Is it cost-effective?

Well, I guess it has to do with the cost of leased lines used for
internet connections. Since the bulk of internet activity takes place
in Europe, most European countries have more direct links to 
sites in the US than they have to sites in other European countries.

Since these leased lines are not really charged by volume but rather
have a fixed monthly charge regardless of traffic, it probably does not
affect the cost a whole lot.

The Austrian branch of EUnet will shortly be connected to the Internet
by a leased line from tuvie to mcsun; our organization may also get a
leased line to tuvie, thus any internet connections from here to
France will run via Holland. Mcsun is connected to the U.S.; unless
there is a direct connection from mcsun to some French site you talk
to directly, a connection from here to you would also run via the
U.S.
-- 
Wolf N. Paul, IIASA, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe
PHONE: +43-2236-71521-465     FAX: +43-2236-71313      UUCP: uunet!iiasa.at!wnp
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       * * * * Kurt Waldheim for President (of Mars, of course!) * * * *