[mod.telecom] redundant routing

bnelson@CCB.BBN.COM.UUCP (01/02/87)

RE: circuit routing to avoid network outages

We at BBN Communications are sometimes asked by commercial customers to 
specify sufficiently redundant circuits such that the built-in adaptive
routing of the backbone won't be undermined by any single telco outage.

In one particluar case, the customer went so far as to request a hard
breakdown of the *SATELLITE* and transponder each circuit used and of
course the various earth stations.  They were apparently worried about
killer asteroids.  Access to this info is of varying difficulty.

However, this is serious business and many are willing to pay the delta.

Q: What to do when ALL international circuits to a given country pass
   through a single point?  e.g. Caracas, CANTV Central Switch
A: Get a license from that country to put in your own earth station!
   (This is no longer a small delta although VSATs are coming down.)

"This document contains statements of opinion by the author which are
not attributable to BBN Communications Corporation or its management."

Barry C. Nelson - Network Consultant - International Certifications