INTELLIGENCE FROM THE BROADBAND ECONOMY

While the Internet industry's growth slowed in 2001, its international hunger for capacity remained strong, according to a new study released last week by TeleGeography. International backbone capacity grew this year by 174% — by no means a paltry amount, but a far cry from the 382% growth seen in 2000. 

TeleGeography's researchers found that foreign carriers are beginning to look in-region instead of toward the U.S. for their transport needs. Still, according to TeleGeography's figures, of the 677 companies operating some kind of international Internet backbone, 462 of them connect directly with the U.S. America isn't in danger of losing its crown any time soon.