Data Detours: Why Internet Traffic Takes the Long Way

Imagine this: you send a request from Kyiv to Denver, Colorado, to download data or participate in a video call. At first glance, the task seems simple, as the direct distance between the two points is only 9,089 km. But instead of taking the shortest route, your data packet embarks on a wild journey, deviating 8,281 km from the straight line and reaching the remote city of Paraná in Brazil before returning to its final destination. This is not just a curiosity; it is a real routing problem in modern networks, which GeoCables monitors.

Why does the route pass through key network providers?

On its journey, the packet involves several major network operators. Among them is AS174 (Cogent Communications, LLC), one of the world's leading transit operators specializing in providing international peering and bandwidth. Also involved in the route is AS32934 (Facebook, Inc.), whose infrastructure spans a global network of data centers and routers. The local operator AS43145 (RNC Ltd.) handles the initial data transmission in Kyiv.

The reason for such a complex route lies in the lack of direct interconnections between some networks, as well as the economic logic of transit operators. For instance, a submarine cable landing station or a data center in Paraná might be an economically advantageous hub for Facebook, which explains the packet's detour to the south. Peering agreements between operators often dictate the final path of data, creating such "detours."

Practical implications for users

Routing delays affect communication quality. In this case, the actual round-trip time (RTT) of the packet was 304 milliseconds, nearly three times the minimum physical threshold of 91 milliseconds, determined by the speed of light in fiber optics. For users, this could mean:

• Delays in video calls: with RTT exceeding 300 ms, conversations become less natural due to pauses and echoes.
• Gaming: for online games, latency above 100 ms is considered critical, leading to "lags" and an inability to react promptly.
• Cloud services: file uploads and working with remote applications slow down, especially if they require high interactivity.
• Financial market trading: even milliseconds can cost significant amounts in high-frequency trading.

Infrastructure context: why does regional traffic "go astray"?

Packet routing is often tied to the global internet infrastructure. Regional operators, such as AS43145 in Ukraine, may have limited direct connections to major international transit operators. As a result, traffic takes long detours to reach globally accessible networks like AS174 or AS32934. Facebook's data centers play a key role in routing, but their geographic location sometimes increases the distance data must travel.

The situation is further complicated by local geopolitical and economic realities, which can limit the development of direct connections. For example, in conflict zones or regions with insufficient infrastructure, operators are forced to rely on more complex transit routes through neighboring countries.

Live context: events along the route

GeoCables monitoring records numerous events occurring near the route, but it is important to emphasize: the detour is caused by routing, not these events. For example, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in Romania (641 km from the route) occurred on August 11, 2026, long before the measurement. A green flood warning in Ukraine, recorded on September 26, 2026, was 537 km from the departure point but did not affect the network. Similarly, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake in Texas (553 km from Denver) on July 23, 2026, is also unrelated to the delay.

While these events are part of the region's overall context, they do not explain the route deviation. The primary factor is the economic and technical logic of peering and transit infrastructure.

Conclusion: what can we learn?

Route analysis, like the one conducted by GeoCables, helps us understand how the global internet infrastructure operates and what challenges remain unresolved. In this case, the routing delay is caused by the complex system of operator interactions and cable landing points. Improving peering and developing direct connections between networks could reduce packet transit times, enhancing user experiences worldwide.