I think the argument is undermined by the fact that peering in Europe is in a fairly dismal state. Were there a MAE-{London, Paris, Prague} I somehow think that the big five at least might throw a T3 or two over. Until that happens, nothing will change. Maybe as access points start springing up in Japan, the Phillipines, etc., the roadblocks to such a cooperative project will start to be removed.'

There are several large exchanges in Europe: the LINX (www.linx.net) with 28 peers, although some more peerworthy than others the D-GIX (at Stockholm) AMSIX E-bone in Paris and many others in Denmark, Rome, etc. And as for US providers throwing T3s they are starting to . . . but after UK (in particular) providers went the other way. Azeem Azeem Azhar vx: 0171-830 7133 The Economist fx: 0171-839 2968 25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HG