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1998 Fools: Consortium announces launch of worldwide connectivity network
Subject: Consortium announces launch of worldwide connectivity network (1998.04.01) From: ocl@gih.com Date: 1998/04/01 Newsgroups: comp.mail.misc,comp.mail.uucp LONDON, APRIL 1 - In a packed Press Conference auditorium, Dr. Klaus Santos announced today the launch of the first worldwide connectivity network named FISH-NET. "From today, it will be possible to connect to the Internet from anywhere on the planet", said Dr. Santos. The network of 1000 satellites covers the whole of the globe. The idea of a network of satellites was launched by competing consortiums but the Full Internet SHell (FISH) alliance managed to launch its satellites in record time to cover the whole planet. Internet connectivity is now available anywhere in the world, provided the right modem kit is purchased from FISH-NET. Amazingly, the connectivity kit costs less than US$100. "When we designed the service, a requirement was that it had to be low-cost for everybody to use. Now anybody can have connectivity to the rest of the world at speeds more than 30 times the rate of the current fastest modem", said Dr. Santos. "We cut our costs whenever we could". The consortium made use of amateur rocket societies to launch their suitcase-sized satellites into orbit instead of resorting to the commercial launchers. As a result, the total cost of putting 1000 satellites in orbit was equivalent to one conventional launch at Cape Canaveral. Dr. Klaus admitted "We had a few failed launches but on the whole, the launching operation went smoothly and we were therefore operational in six months". Mr. John Herring, of the Amateur Rocket Society of Great Britain (ARS-GB), also present at the press conference added "We amateurs are a new force in the international launch of satellites. Through our thousands of members we are able to manufacture twice as many rockets as all commercial launchers put together. Our low-cost launch vehicle designs impressed the FISH-NET consortium, and we netted the contract through agressive bidding". "Watch out", Mr. Herring warned, "if you thought that the Mars Pathfinder mission was impressive, stay tuned to ARS-GB, and you'll be impressed". News of the launch of FISH-NET have spread quickly around the globe. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Samaek, of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia welcomed the launch as being the biggest step in economic development for his country in the last twenty years. "We have had major problems with reliable Internet connectivity in the past, and this is the first time that we can surf the Web from anywhere else than the capital. I expect Internet Web-Cafes to open here soon". Mr. Poisson, grandson of the well known scientist said from his home in Paris, France "We are finally reaching the stage of true Telecommunication de-regulation. Yesterday's European telecom monopolies are truly dead and gone, This is the final nail in their coffin". By using a smuggled transmitting station, Kim Sung Park of North Korea sent his first E-mail to the outside world "This is great news for democracy; censorship of information is now a thing of the past". A group of surfer-buddies, having made the trip from the US to London specially for the announcement, were enthusiastic about the News. Larry, Len, Vint, Daniel, "JCRL", David, Barry, Bob, Ray and Jon remember the days of ARPANET. "FISH-NET is a gigantic step towards JC's Galactic Network Concept. It's way-cool". Throughout the day, tributes have been pouring in to the FISH-NET headquarters for their efficiency and sensible pricing. Plans are in fact in the works to provide free connectivity to some of the most remote places on Earth. "We would have never been able to do this without the help of the Internet community. There are thousands of these people world-wide, who do their little bit into getting the Internet to work at the lowest possible cost. Now it's our time to reward these heroes. They were the pioneers, we're the cavalry, and the cavalry is never late", concluded Dr. Santos. Olivier C-L, reporting from London, UK. -- Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond, Ph.D. |----> Global Information Highway Limited Phone: +44 (0)956 84 1113 | Always 60 seconds | E-mail: <ocl@gih.com> Fax : +44 (0)171 937 7666 | ahead of the past | Web: http://www.gih.com/
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