[grokas]

The tiny cable loop in the Gulf of Mexico between Texas and Louisiana area is just depressing...

Why was that the solution?

Its really bringing to mind all the issues the US has with infrastructure implementation on dry land. Sigh.

[mcpherrinm]

Here's a better Tampnet map: https://6999076.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6999076...

This map is a bit more informative as to what's going on there -- the gulf of mexico network is page 2.

[ianburrell]

If you click on the segment, can see that it is Tampnet. It looks like they provide fiber and mobile networks to offshore drilling. That is right location for oil fields.

[vxNsr]

What’s that ISP service call look like?

“Hey, Comcast, I need internet at my new address”

“Sure, where is it?”

“60mi south of the Louisiana coast line and 45mi east of Mexico”

“…hmm, yea we can probably swing that, it’ll be an extra $10k for ftth, otherwise we’re only running copper”

[southerntofu]

Like your fun, but for some extra seriousness, 10k$ is the order of magnitude you pay to setup FTTH in a big city. Most times, consumer ISPs eat the cost and make economies of scale by connecting entire neighborhoods, but if you don't have that chance and for some reasons ISPs won't connect you you can count on 10-50k$ infrastructure bill.

Also, consumer ISPs like Comcast are the worst. If you have good relationships in your neighborhood/municipality, going collective like with SCANI/Freifunk is always going to be more interesting and useful.

[woooooo]

Why not?

Even if we were superhumanly competent at on-land infra, you still have to negotiate right of way and bury hundreds of miles of cable overland. The ocean way they just drop the cable off of the back of a boat.