What do you mean by "current", "future" and "planned" links?
  • Current refers to links that are currently in use.
  • Future links are not yet in operational use, but the fiber has been bought or leased.
  • Planned links are tentative - no fiber has been contracted. We're phasing these out of the map, since the information tends to be too speculative. We'd like the map to show what the network actually looks like - not what people would like it to look like.
Can I link to the RON map from my web pages?
Absolutely. We'd prefer that you link to the web pages rather than to the map file directly, so that people can have an opportunity to learn something about the map, where it comes from, the people who make it, etc. Plus, if you let us know the URL of the page you're linking from, we'll link back to you.
Why is the text so small? Can you make it bigger?
The version we generally disribute was designed to be viewed on a computer - in a program that has zooming capabilites - or printed in a 17 x 11 inch format. The choice of font sizes reflect these considerations.
Can I customise the map? Will you make a custom version for my specific application? Will you make a version that looks better in print?
We're always willing to work with people who want to adapt the map for their own purposes, so long as you don't claim it as your own. We're also generally happy to provide custom versions of the map. See the contacts page for how to get in touch with us.
How is the map produced?
By far the hardest part is gathering the necessary information - this is done by putting requests for information out on a few mailing lists, and then figuring out what links are appropriate for inclusion. The list of links is maintained in an Excel spreadsheet. There's some macro-fu that connects the spreadsheet with Adobe Illustrator CS3, and then (inevitably) some manual tweaking is necessary before finally exporting the map as a PDF.