Although NYNEX led the FLAG effort, the company did not manufacture the necessary cable. Shown here, the delicate fiber-optic strands that carry phone traffic must be both precisely engineered and heavily armored in jute, tar, plastic and -- in some cases -- steel, for protection against backhoes, ships' anchors and the raw elements. For this specialized product, FLAG went to its main competitor AT&T. Photo: Alex Tehrani return to map Interactive Atlas - Compare the world's haves and have-nots. Info-Graphic - Ways of balancing profit and principle in the global marketplace. Photo Essay - Argentina: from economic meltdown to political crisis Interactive Challenge - Test your knowledge of WTO-era China. Economic Survey - Size up China's economic muscle. Debate - What does the WTO mean for China?

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