Internet Disruption: A Patchwork of Networks Unravels

Strategic Insights -

A battle between two companies handling Internet traffic for about 18 percent of the web has blocked off millions of users, highlighting the fragility of the internet and its patchwork of individual networks. The dispute between Level 3 and Cogent Communications, which normally let traffic pass between them at no charge, has forced some traffic to be rerouted and brought other traffic to a standstill. This standoff has left an estimated 30 million dial-up customers without access to websites managed by Cogent, which handles 12 percent of worldwide Internet traffic.

Key Takeaways:

  • The dispute between Level 3 and Cogent Communications has blocked off millions of web surfers, affecting 18 percent of the internet.
  • Some 30 million dial-up customers, including those of AOL, MSN, and EarthLink, were affected, unable to access websites managed by Cogent.
  • Level 3 handles 6 percent of worldwide Internet traffic, while Cogent handles 12 percent.
  • The two companies normally let traffic pass between them at no charge, but the dispute led Level 3 to break the connection, citing Cogent's alleged abuse of the link.
  • Cogent denied abusing the connection, refused to pay, and charged that Level 3 was upset over being undercut on prices.
  • Cogent offered a year of free service to any Level 3 customer willing to switch to Cogent.
  • The disruption affected Time Warner's high-speed Internet customers, with some sites unavailable due to severed connections.
  • The companies' operation in Minnesota, which uses a different connection, was spared from the impact.

Statistics:

  • 18% of the internet is affected by the dispute between Level 3 and Cogent.
  • 30 million dial-up customers are estimated to be affected, primarily in North America and western Europe.
  • Level 3 handles 6% of worldwide Internet traffic, while Cogent handles 12%.
  • 10% of Cogent's customers have no other link to the internet, unable to access Level 3's 6% of the internet.
  • 1% of customers had paid extra for multiple Internet connections, allowing them to reach affected websites through roundabout paths.

Sources:

  • [News.com, a technology website]
  • [CNET, a technology news website]
  • [Computer World, a technology news website]
  • Steve Alexander, Staff Writer, Star Tribune

Steve Alexander is at alex@startribune.com.