Cogent and Sprint decided to disconnect the internet today.  Cogent Communications, a global ISP carrying more than 17% of worldwide internet traffic and Sprint carrying 12% of worldwide internet traffic are no longer sending traffic to one another.

According to Om Malik, “It is no longer possible for many Sprint customers and Cogent customers to directly communicate across the Internet,” Cogent said and alleged that Sprint was in “violation of a contractual obligation to exchange Internet traffic with Cogent on a settlement free peering basis.” The two companies are in litigation over the issue.”

The good news is that the internet is ‘self-heeling’ allowing traffic to find another route, the bad news is that this ‘spat’ will slow down the internet.  If your internet connection seems slow today, I would bet money it has to do with Sprint and Cogent.  Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.