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Undersea Cable Break Disrupts Life In Northern Mariana Islands
An anonymous reader writes: The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands experienced a devastating undersea cable break on Wednesday, with phone, Internet, SMS, banking services, the National Weather Service office, and airliners all being affected. The US territory depends on a single undersea fiber optic connection with Guam for its connectivity to the outside world (except for a backup microwave link, which was itself damaged during a recent storm). While services are in the process of being restored, this may be a prime example of the need for reliable backup systems in our "always connected" mindset.
this may be a prime example of the need for reliable backup systems in our "always connected" mindset.
Or it may be a prime example how helpless many systems are with even a small break in connectivity, and point to a strong need for all systems to be built with robust (or any!) offline modes...
Airlines being affected for example is bullshit - the schedules for example are all known months ahead of time. That the systems had not cached everything needed for a few weeks at least verges on criminal. Incoming planes can carry USB sticks with updated manifests and other data...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
That's just ignorant.
Really? Cost of living in places like that is sky-high compared to almost any other setting, unless you want to live a fairly primitive existence. But we're talking about access to high-speed internet connectivity. People whose lifestyles demand fiber connectivity are not trapped on an island with no way off. You're either trollish or not even bothering to try to think this through. Still, you're right - this would make an excellent new piece of Outrage Fuel for the Daily Social Justice Warrior marching orders. Unfair! Unfair! The Man is keeping small island locations from having multiple, geographically diverse fiber pipes in the middle of the ocean! The people trapped on those islands by Evil One Percenters should be getting service subsidized by some middle class guy who loads trucks for a living in New Jersey! Social justice demands it!
Please. If the compromises that come with living in a very remote place don't appeal, don't live there. We're talking about interrupted fiber optic service to the middle of the ocean, and you're treating it like a sign that the people who are choosing to live there and open banks and other operations are being forced to.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.