Tag Archives: web searche[s]

Submarine Communications Cables and Africa

Cable_Map_big

No really. I don’t understand. I mean, we never really learn or think about Submarine Communications Cables, we just use them all the time. I was listening to a radio program a few nights ago, and they were discussing how the west coast of Africa has only one fiber optic cable to carry high speed internet access.   When I did a web search I found numerous articles from… oh a bit over a week ago talking about east Africa just now getting a fiber optic cable.

I am having a really hard time finding information about the ownership of these cables and who pays for their development and maintenance, but I wonder what narrative could be constructed examining the decisions that led to development and lack their of in Africa.

Links

The internet and I have a somewhat long standing relationship, all things considered.  I have been connected without interruption since 1995, when I got my 14.4 modem that was quickly replaced by a 28.8 and I longed for a 56 until 1998, when I finally had my own computer in my room.  I have always loved links… I like seeing the relationships between things, and what thing leads to the next and the chain of thought behind it.  I think that is why I enjoyed litterature so much.  As out dated as it is, I know I am a semiotician at heart.  I live to analyze modes of communication to try to figure out what it all means.  So, basically, the internet is a big playground.  I hate to think of the carbon foot print I’ve left doing random web searches for obscure terms in my quest to find what word combination will lead to specific results.

That brings us to links.  I can find a link for just about anything.  I don’t think it is a major feat; afterall everything is on the internet somewhere it seems, plus I take in a lot of information.  But occasionally people are shocked and awed by my link finding skills.  I assure everyone though, that you just need to acknowledge your curiosities and find the right combination of words.

I have decided that since this is my site, I will be continually adding links to down at the nifty little link section for sites I find that are of interest to me.  I kind of have a hate, hate, super hate, love with social networking sites so my bookmarks can go here instead of one of those unamed places where I probably have an account I am not using for various reasons.   I shall consider this site my home base for all things internet that I feel like documenting and a few other random things.  I think that is a plan.