Google's Submarine Cable

What the heck is all that about?

They're reportedly planning to lay a couple of cables across the pacific in association with some other telecoms companies.

They've also got a job listing for a "Strategic Negotiator, Submarine Cable" (nice bit of seo link love for ya guys!).

Why? Well it may be part of their much discussed move into telecommunications, but not for it's own sake, or to take on mobile operators or anything - but to allow them to better service Google users across Asia. Internet usage is growing rapidly there (up 41% from mid 2006 to mid-2007 according to TeleGeography Inc.) and they need a decent backbone to serve results and offer an alternative to local data centres.

With the future growth in Asian internet traffic expected to continue its rapid growth, should us affiliates and merchants be seeing if we can leverage any of that traffic?