The PCMag Digital Network relays a report from Thomson Reuters that Google is seeking an Internet fast lane. The deal Google has been proposing to US-based broadband providers involves co-locating Google servers at system head-ends to reduce transmission time. Cable networks are wary of the proposal as it may be in contravention of the Federal Communications Commission’s “network neutrality” guidelines. Google stated to Thomson Reuters that this is a path open to anyone.
Could a co-located mirror of a library district’s ILS be in the future?
Ever hear of Akamai?
If not, you’ve almost certainly seen URLs with “akamai” in them flitting across your screen as popular websites are loading–quickly.
Akamai does edge caching, replicating content at many servers around the country (or world) in order to provide faster response. (Probably a vastly oversimplified version.)
Google wants to do more edge caching, replicating content at many servers around the country (or world) in order to provide faster response.
I’m as ready as anyone to find fault with Google, but in this case, they’re not messing with net neutrality any more than they already do by having multiple copies of the database to provide faster service.