---
title: "Optical Illusions: Content Providers and the Impending Transformation of International Transport"
description: Tim's session covered the relationship between international transport and content provider demand and the way in which content providers are changing international transport prices.
image: https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/2017/blog-assets/opticalfeature.jpg
---
[](https://www2.telegeography.com/)
- [About](https://www2.telegeography.com/about-us)
- [Research](https://www2.telegeography.com/our-research)
- [Products](https://www2.telegeography.com/products)
- [Solutions](https://www2.telegeography.com/solutions)
- [Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com)
[Log In](https://www.telegeography.com/login/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegeography.com%2Faccount%2Fhome%2Findex)
[Contact](https://www2.telegeography.com/contact-us)
###### Data and Analysis Tools
- [Cloud and WAN Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/cloud-and-wan-infrastructure)
- [Data Center Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/data-center-research-service)
- [GlobalComms Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/globalcomms-database-service)
- [International Voice Report](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-report-and-database)
- [IP Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/ip-networks-research-service)
- [ISP Navigator](https://www2.telegeography.com/isp-navigatorisp-navigator)
- [Transport Networks Research Service](https://www2.telegeography.com/transport-networks)
- [Network Pricing Database](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-pricing-database)
- [WAN Cost Benchmark](https://www2.telegeography.com/wan-cost-benchmark)
- [Product Passes](https://www2.telegeography.com/product-passes)
###### Consulting
- [All Consulting Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/consulting)
- [Submarine Cable Consulting](https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-consulting)
###### Maps
- [All Map Services](https://www2.telegeography.com/map-services)
- [Sponsor a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/sponsor-a-map)
- [License Map Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/license-geocoded-map-data)
- [Cite a Map](https://www2.telegeography.com/cite-telegeography-map)
- [Buy a Map](https://shop.telegeography.com/collections/telecom-maps/)
###### Industry
- [Education](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-for-education)
- [Enterprise](https://www2.telegeography.com/enterprise)
- [Tech](https://www2.telegeography.com/tech)
- [Telecom](https://www2.telegeography.com/telecom)
###### Case Studies
- [AI + Retail Telecom Data](https://www2.telegeography.com/where-to-get-global-telecom-data)
- [EXA Infrastructure](https://www2.telegeography.com/exa-infrastructure-case-study)
- [Orange Wholesale](https://www2.telegeography.com/orange-wholesale-case-study)
- [The European Commission](https://www2.telegeography.com/the-european-commissions-data-backed-approach-to-international-policy)
[Back to Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com)
# Optical Illusions: Content Providers and the Impending Transformation of International Transport
##### By [Jayne Miller,](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/jayne-miller) Oct 05, 2017
[Networks](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/networks) [Pricing](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/pricing) [Events](https://resources.telegeography.com/tag/events)
This week TeleGeography VP of Research Tim Stronge made his way to San Jose to speak at [NANOG 71](https://www.nanog.org/).
His session covered the relationship between international transport and content provider demand and the way in which content providers are changing international transport prices.
Using notable optical illusions to discuss ways in which the costs and benefits associated with content providers' participation in transport is potentially illusory, Tim set the stage by looking at the astonishing growth of content providers.
From there, Tim took a closer look at cable investments, the role of geography, the routes most used by content providers, bandwidth pricing, and much more.
You can watch the full presentation below.
#### Jayne Miller
Jayne Miller is TeleGeography's Director of Operations. She has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and creative strategist.
[View Jayne Miller Work](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/jayne-miller)
## Explore Related Content
###### Blog
May 30, 2018
#### [Content, Capacity, and the Great, Growing Demand for International Bandwidth](https://resources.telegeography.com/t-growing-demand-for-international-bandwidth-content-providers-capacity)
Global bandwidth demand continues to grow, spurring terrestrial and submarine cable network operators to...
[View More by Alan Mauldin](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/alan-mauldin)
[Read Full Article](https://resources.telegeography.com/t-growing-demand-for-international-bandwidth-content-providers-capacity)
###### Blog
Sep 7, 2021
#### [Global Internet Traffic and Capacity Return to Regularly Scheduled Programming](https://resources.telegeography.com/internet-traffic-and-capacity-return-to-their-regularly-scheduled-programming)
Here's the headline: global internet bandwidth rose by 29% in 2021. You could consider this a return to...
[View More by Alan Mauldin](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/alan-mauldin)
[Read Full Article](https://resources.telegeography.com/internet-traffic-and-capacity-return-to-their-regularly-scheduled-programming)
###### Blog
Sep 20, 2018
#### [International Internet Capacity Growth Just Accelerated for the First Time Since 2015](https://resources.telegeography.com/international-internet-capacity-growth-just-accelerated-for-the-first-time-since-2015)
It's true. International internet capacity growth defied long-term trends in 2018 and accelerated for...
[View More by Alan Mauldin](https://resources.telegeography.com/author/alan-mauldin)
[Read Full Article](https://resources.telegeography.com/international-internet-capacity-growth-just-accelerated-for-the-first-time-since-2015)
[](https://www2.telegeography.com/)
[Login](https://www.telegeography.com/login/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegeography.com%2Faccount%2Fhome%2Findex)
[Contact Us](https://www2.telegeography.com/contact-us)
###### [About](https://www2.telegeography.com/about-us)
- [Research](https://www2.telegeography.com/our-research)
- [Products](https://www2.telegeography.com/products)
- [Solutions](https://www2.telegeography.com/solutions)
- [Demo](https://www2.telegeography.com/demo)
###### [Press](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-press)
- [Events](https://www2.telegeography.com/telecom-events)
- [Careers](https://www2.telegeography.com/careers)
###### [Resources](https://resources.telegeography.com/)
- [Podcast](https://www2.telegeography.com/telegeography-explains-the-internet-podcast)
- [Newsletter](https://www2.telegeography.com/subscribe-to-telegeography-emails)
-
-
All Rights Reserved 2026
- [Privacy Policy](https://www2.telegeography.com/privacy-policy)
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Jayne Miller",
"url" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/author/jayne-miller"
},
"dateModified" : "2026-01-30T03:49:55.487Z",
"datePublished" : "2017-10-05T14:20:00.000Z",
"headline" : "Optical Illusions: Content Providers and the Impending Transformation of International Transport",
"image" : [ "https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/2017/blog-assets/opticalfeature.jpg" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/optical-illusions-content-providers-and-the-impending-transformation-of-international-transport",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/hubfs/assets/telegeography/telegeography-logo-blog.png"
},
"name" : "TeleGeography"
}
}
```
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org/",
"@type" : "WebSite",
"image" : "https://www2.telegeography.com/hubfs/Website/assets/logo/telegeography-logo.svg",
"name" : "Optical Illusions: Content Providers and the Impending Transformation of International Transport",
"potentialAction" : {
"@type" : "SearchAction",
"query-input" : "required name=search_term_string",
"target" : "{search_term_string}"
},
"url" : "https://resources.telegeography.com/optical-illusions-content-providers-and-the-impending-transformation-of-international-transport"
}
```