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A really, really long time, as long as there is power.

Modern fiber optic networks are really robust and will keep on chugging with minimal to no upkeep. Problems mainly arise when lightning fries equipment or backhoes run amok.

It’s a whole different ballgame, both in terms of bandwidth and upkeep, compared to needing to continuously launch new satellites.

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If you live in a geologically stable place, yes.

Quite a large share of world population does not. Including rich places like Japan, which is part of the Pacific ring of fire.

Even in a former mining city where I was born, the soil shifts quite a bit, as the abandoned mine shafts underneath are filled with water and collapse. It sometimes has an effect on networks that are dug in.

I recall a second hand story where AT&T technicians visited LA? after the quake and the phone switches were free floating in the air hanging from their cabling.

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