North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical Re: UUNET Press Release on Peering
Strikes me that the terms "diversely routed" and "geographically diverse" can be interpretted wildly. For most networks, I don't see a real problem dropping a couple extra pairs of DS3s (assuming they were only at two NAPs to begin with). If UUNet requires a DS3 interconnect at LINX, MaeWest, MaeEast and say (for giggles) Australia -- AND a diversely routed DS3 backbone in the U.S. that takes on an entirely different meaning than the above. Also note that a DS3 interconnect between UUNet and a potential peer's network does NOT imply multiple DS3 connections [feeding either the UUNet or peer's side]. This does seem remarkably less stringent than the first foray of press did. Any other opinions? -Deepak. On Mon, 12 May 1997, Kent W. England wrote: > UUNET issued a press release today on their peering strategy. It is located > at: > > http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/97/05/12/wcom_x000_1.html > > The gist of the press release is that UUNET will peer with anyone who has > "a national network with a dedicated, diversely routed DS-3 (or faster) > backbone, and which will connect to UUNET at DS-3 or greater speeds in at > least four geographically diverse locations." UUNET is being taken > advantage of by "small regional ISP's and companies which provide ``web > server farm'' services rather than Internet networking." and must protect > itself from abuse of its backbone. > > Sounds like they are backing off, since this line of reasoning (modulo > bandwidth and number of interconnects) has been standard procedure for all > the national backbones since the end of the NSFNET. However, if you read > the fine print about "a dedicated diversely routed DS-3 or faster backbone" > that lets out all the "no money down instant backbones" that many smaller > national ISPs and web farmers have built of late. > > Are they still insisting on NDAs before talking? > > --Kent > > ------------- > Monday May 12 8:32 AM EDT > > Company Press Release > > UUNET details peering strategy > > Changing Internet economics prompt new policy > > FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 1997--Stating that the economics of > the Internet have changed radically in the past few years, UUNET > Technologies Inc., the world's largest Internet service provider and a > subsidiary of WorldCom Inc. (NASDAQ:WCOM), today detailed its policy > regarding peering with other ISP's. > > The company said it will continue to peer with ISP's that can route traffic > on a bilateral and equitable basis. However, UUNET will no longer accept > peering requests from ISP's whose infrastructures do not allow for the > exchange of similar traffic levels. > > ``A few years ago all ISPs were generally the same size and used each > other's infrastructures to a more or less equal extent,'' said John > Sidgmore, president and chief executive officer of UUNET. ``Today that > situation no longer exists and consequently there are many cases where > peering is not appropriate.'' > > One of the major principles of UUNET's policy is to peer with ISP's that > operate a national network with a dedicated, diversely routed DS-3 (or > faster) backbone, and which will connect to UUNET at DS-3 or greater speeds > in at least four geographically diverse locations. Peering is an > arrangement whereby ``peers'', or ISP's of similar size, route each others' > traffic to destinations on their respective networks. Because the flow of > data and use of infrastructure are anticipated to be approximately equal in > both directions, no money changes hands in peering relationships. > > UUNET said it has received numerous peering requests from small regional > ISP's and companies which provide ``web server farm'' services rather than > Internet networking. These are, in effect, requests for UUNET to provide > national and international data transport, as well as connectivity and > support services, to companies which do not have the ability to provide > similar services in return. Essentially, companies requesting peering in > these situations are seeking to use UUNET's network for free, after UUNET > has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to create its infrastructure. > > ``This is a purely economic decision,'' Sidgmore continued. ``We are 100 > percent in favor of interconnection and won't deny access to anyone. > However where the use of our respective infrastructures would clearly be > imbalanced, we cannot reasonably be expected to provide our transport, > route management and support resources at no charge.'' > > For those ISP's, or web server farms, seeking transport and route > management services from UUNET, but which do not qualify as peers, UUNET > offers wholesale connectivity services beginning at monthly rates of $2,000 > for T1 connections and $6,000 for fractional T3 connections. UUNET > currently provides such wholesale connections to several hundred ISP's. > > UUNET's network consists of a global backbone with multiple DS-3 (45 > million bits per second) links on all major routes. It has an aggregate > capacity well in excess of 5 gigabits per second. UUNET recently announced > it was making a $300 million investment in its infrastructure which would > quadruple dial capacity and raise the speed of backbone routes to OC-12 > (622 million bits per second), dramatically increasing capacity. > > ... > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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