Path dependence and the geography of infrastructure networks: the case of the European fibre-optic network

Abstract

We analyse the path dependent dynamics in the formation of new infrastructure using an augmented gravity model. We observe that the formation of the pan-European telecommunication backbone has been dependent on pre-existent European transportation networks, particularly, the maritime and railway networks. Cities that were already central in these transportation networks were more likely to get connected through fibre-optic networks than other cities. Our study can be considered as a first attempt to analyse, in a quantitative manner, the path dependent dynamics in the formation of new infrastructure.