The standard's global deployment is pervasive, and the span of stakeholders in its ongoing development is sweeping, including network component and system manufacturers (optical transceivers, cabling, integrated circuit, powering devices, switches and network interface cards, for example) and network, software and bandwidth providers, as well as LAN and Internet users worldwide.

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Software companies large and small make these kinds of judgments on a daily basis during both the development process and the life span of a deployed product.

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There is a high mortality rate -- with an average life span of only 47 -- minimal infrastructure and limited tools for economic development.

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