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Old May 17th 10, 07:30 PM posted to sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe,alt.lasers,sci.optics
Skywise
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Posts: 318
Default Reflecting satellites, big business

AES wrote in news:siegman-6A2D86.10041017052010
@bmedcfsc-srv02.tufts.ad.tufts.edu:

In article ,
Skywise wrote:

The way Internet traffic is sold makes even this kind of traffic
valuable. Imagine the high cost of an Atlantic cable.


I believe there are perfectly functional, less than 20-year-old
transoceanic fiber cables that have simply been abandoned in place on
the ocean floor, because the latest cables have such immense
traffic-handling capability that these older cables are simple not
needed, and it makes no sense to continue to operate them.

The loaded cost of transferring bits through an Atlantic cable **per
telephone call* or **per file transferred** is just unimaginably small
-- truly "bandwidth almost too cheap to monitor or to measure".


Exactly. This whole satellite based laser system is just a Rube
Goldberg idea. IMO. It may have certain niche uses, but not for
general consumption.

Brian
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