Why Internet Traffic Takes the Long Way: A Global Routing Puzzle
Imagine this: data sent from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, takes a circuitous route, adding 5,202 km via the Netherlands to the shortest possible distance of 7,032 km. This detour results in a latency of 437 milliseconds, nearly six times the theoretical minimum of 70 milliseconds. These delays have tangible impacts on video calls, online gaming, and cloud services, underscoring the intricate nature of global internet infrastructure. Welcome to the world of data routing, where GeoCables actively monitors and confirms such anomalies.
Why does data take such a convoluted route?
On its journey from Almaty to Dar es Salaam, the data traverses networks managed by major operators such as Signal Telecom LLP, JSC Kazakhtelecom, PJSC Rostelecom, and PCCW Global. These operators form part of a complex internet ecosystem where traffic is routed based on peering and transit agreements. For instance, Signal Telecom and Kazakhtelecom manage local traffic within Kazakhstan, but international traffic relies on operators like PCCW Global, headquartered in Hong Kong. In this specific case, the traffic was routed through Frankfurt, passed via Lelystad in the Netherlands, and then reached its destination through Djibouti and Iringa in Tanzania.
This routing occurs due to the lack of direct inter-network connections in the region and the economic considerations of transit. Key international cable systems and landing points, such as Djibouti, play a pivotal role in traffic routing. However, in the absence of direct connections, data follows established transit routes, even if this significantly increases the journey's length.
Practical implications for users
A latency of 437 milliseconds has noticeable effects. In video calls, such delays can cause "echo" effects and desynchronization of audio and video, complicating communication. For online gaming, where milliseconds matter, a ping above 100-150 ms is already considered suboptimal, and 437 ms renders many games nearly unplayable. In algorithmic trading, such latency could result in significant financial losses, while cloud service efficiency diminishes due to slower response times.
Geopolitical and infrastructure context
Kazakhstan, strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, serves as a vital transit hub in Central Asia. However, its internet infrastructure lacks sufficient direct international connections. GeoCables confirmed that traffic from Kazakhstan is routed through Russia and Europe due to the limited number of direct cable links to Africa. Djibouti, a critical landing point for numerous submarine cables, naturally functions as a hub for data transmission to Africa. However, the absence of direct routes from Central Asia makes this path less efficient.
Real events in the region
In the weeks preceding these observations, various natural events occurred in the region, including earthquakes in Kyrgyzstan, China, and Tajikistan. For example, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck on June 3, 76 km south of Daroot-Korgon (Kyrgyzstan), and a 4.9-magnitude earthquake occurred on June 4, 57 km northwest of Huocheng (China). GeoCables confirmed that these events had no impact on the routing of this traffic. The observed detour was entirely due to the characteristics of the network infrastructure and agreements between providers.
Additionally, on June 1, a flood threat was recorded in Germany, approximately 395 km away from the traffic route. GeoCables verified that this event was unrelated to the deviation. These occurrences illustrate the complexity and dynamism of the regional context, yet the primary cause of the routing anomaly remains rooted in the economic and technical logic of data transit.
What can we learn from this?
This case exemplifies how the global internet infrastructure, despite its vastness and complexity, still faces inefficiencies. GeoCables continues to monitor and analyze such anomalies, shedding light on their causes and implications. For users, this serves as a reminder that internet delays are not merely technical issues but the result of a multifaceted ecosystem where commercial, technical, and geopolitical factors converge.
