Fiber Telecommunications and The Mid East

Telegeography has an interesting map on the many fibers going down the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden and then to Asia. We all too often fail to recognize that this now Hot Spot is also a key strategic point for global telecommunications. A couple of years ago I was working on a proposed fiber across the Arctic above Russia and had indicated to various US Government types its strategic importance, the Russians not withstanding. The current situation in the Gulf region further intensifies this issue. In a brief moment these lines could be severed and global finance and commerce could suffer. It will be interesting to watch this effort. The irony is that Russia could have established itself as a Global conduit for such efforts but alas it has soured the well over the last year.