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Internet Traffic Shifting Away From Tier-1 Carriers
carusoj writes 'The way traffic moves over the Internet has changed radically in the last five years. Arbor Networks next week will present the results of a two-year study, drawing on more than 256 exabytes of Internet traffic data, which found that the bulk of international Internet traffic no longer moves across Tier-1 transit providers. Instead, the traffic is handled directly by large content providers, content delivery networks, and consumer networks, and is handed off from one of these to another. You can probably guess what some of these companies are: Google, Microsoft, Facebook. Arbor says there are about 30 of these 'hyper giant' companies that generate and consume about 30% of all Internet traffic.' Here is the Arbor Networks press release on the report.
Well see, hundreds of years ago a new kind of yoke started to be used that allowed horses to pull plows instead of oxen. The increase in efficiency allowed a surplus of food to be grown. This not only lowered the mortality rate of children, but caused them to seek out other forms of making a living spurring further technological and economic growth. This created the "middle class", people that had some wealth but which were not genealogically entitled as part of the ruling class. They were however, able to pool their wealth for ventures beyond their individual means. This economic company of individuals would grant a share or multiple shares of the venture's profit...