Manning points out that users, who have been frustrated trying to reach 911 emergency and 411 directory information calls, can easily switch out of Global Village and access their primary phone line.
"We are basically selling into DSL channels," Manning said. "Most are international markets. Outside of the U.S., DSL is the main way VoIP is delivered." Zoom addresses the retail market in the U.S. via CompUSA and Fry's stores in California. He added that Zoom's USB modems for single PCs are selling well in the U.K. while some international ISPs, such as some in Bolivia, are buying DSL modems in bulk.
Manning said the service is popular among users who are hesitant about using VoIP. With no monthly service charge, users can use most features of the Global Village service free of charge. "Our model is for people to make as many IP-to-IP calls as you want without paying," Manning said. "We are saying that our VoIP is not intrinsically different from e-mail and instant messaging."
For users of the Global Village service who want to call via the public switched telephone network (PSTN), Manning said Level 3 completes calls for a low fee.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
