"Edward M. Lerner - Dangling Conversations" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lerner Edward M)

The International Telecommunications Union took the lead in reconciling the many competing claims.
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That made the ITU an essential, if underappreciated, part of the global economy. Multi-billion-dollar
fortunes rose and fell with the outcome of ITU negotiations.

A waiter glided by with champagne. Matthews took a flute for himself and one for his companion.
тАЬCongratulations, Madame Secretary-General.тАЭ

They clinked glasses.

тАЬYou, too.тАЭ Fair enough: the WARC had just authorized a frequency range for new broadband services
that was compatible with NetSat's working prototype.

Bridget Satterswaithe, the Secretary-General of the ITU, turned to the lake. Great yachts bobbed at
anchor, brightly lit by marina spotlights. She sipped her champagne. тАЬNow that the conference is over, I
look forward to some sailing. Maybe see my parents in London. Even a quiet...тАЭ

Buzzing interrupted her; she retrieved the cell phone from her clutch bag. She appeared surprised at the
caller ID on the display. тАЬPlease excuse meтАФI have to take this.тАЭ

He took the stairs from the terrace down to the marina, giving Satterswaithe some privacy. Waves
lapped peacefully against the shore. The wooden pier creaked under his tread. He, too, anticipated some
well-deserved rest.

She rejoined him, sans champagne. She seemed shaken. тАЬYou're not going to believe why you won't be
getting that bandwidth after all.тАЭ
****

Dean held a PhD in physics and an MBA in international trade. With ten years of telecomm experience,
he was, in Internet years, a grizzled veteran. As VP of Strategy and Technology for NetSat, his job
entailed much more than lobbying the ITU and its national counterparts for bandwidth.

None of that experience prepared him for Bridget's news.

She had insisted that they go first to ITU headquarters, and would not discuss itтАФwhateverit wasтАФin
the limo.

She now leaned against a corner of her desk. тАЬThis all becomes public knowledge tomorrow. It's been
predistributed to governments and the appropriate international scientific bodies. I'm bending rules only
slightly by telling you tonight. I'm doing so because, in one very narrow sense, the biggest impact will be
on NetSat.

тАЬOf course, life as we know it will also change.тАЭ

She had his full attention.