number of routes (was EOF Minutes)

[Christian Huitema <]

I note in the EOF minutes the following phrases:

>For example, we know that the networks numbers from 193.x.x.x to 194.x.x.x 
>are dedicated to europe and on the other end the networks numbers from 
>198.x.x.x to 199.x.x.x are dedicated to the US. So, it seems to be possible 
>to announce these routes with only four routes, but how ?

I don't want to reduce your enthusiasm, but I would like to observe that we
currently have over 25000 routes. Reducing 25000 to 4 is an interesting
objective, but reducing it to e.g. 250 would already be a very good result. Or
even 2500, for that matter.

One of the reasons why I do not believe in the "reduction down to 4" is that
it smacks of monopolies, implies a very unusual amount of coordination. It is
perfectly sensible for an European network provider to manage its own
international connectivity, without going through a particular "common fat
pipe". This is not only natural, but a very sound competition strategy. And it
does imply that this provider will announce its own reachability lists,
without aggregating them under the continent's prefix.

Christian Huitema