Have people forgottten satellites? You don't have to go along the Earth's crust, you know! A low orbit satellite with height above surface <= r * (0.5 * theta

Have people forgottten satellites? You don't have to go along the Earth's crust, you know! A low orbit satellite with height above surface <= r * (0.5 * theta * cosec (theta /2) - 1) where r = radius of earth and theta = angle subtended by the arc between NY and London at the earth's center will always transmit signals faster than a transatlantic cable. With actual values, the height comes out to be around 510 kms.