Global Light's (AMEX:GBT) (CDNX:GGB.U) affiliate, New World Network, the principle owner of the Americas Region Caribbean Optical-ring System (ARCOS), a submarine broadband cable network, announced that the ARCOS fiber optic submarine cable system has secured all permits to land the cable system in fourteen countries including; the United States, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Curacao, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Mexico.
Currently three primary cable-laying vessels are installing the ARCOS system. One Tyco cable laying vessel responsible for installing the two repeatered segments of the system and two NSW-Corning ships completing the remaining unrepeatered portions of the network. Additional specialized vessels have also been made available to support the installation program.
The first seven segments of ARCOS linking the United States, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico have been lit and are under rigorous testing. The system will provide up to a minimum of 1.92 Terabits/second of bandwidth capacity and upon completion of testing, these seven segments will begin commercial operations. The first seven segments comprise the initial phase of the ARCOS system and will form an integral part of the fully redundant ARCOS ring network when it is completed.
The network remains on schedule and on budget with construction expected to be complete in late Q3 2001 and full commercial operation expected in Q4 2001.
New World Network financing is provided by Barclays Bank PLC and the Bank of Montreal, and owned by Global Light Telecommunications 49 percent, with Siemens Project Ventures (19.6 percent) and Barclays Bank PLC (3.9 percent).
About Global Light:
Global Light Telecommunications Inc. (AMEX: GBT) develops telecommunications projects, providing management, financial and business planning and administration, communication, technical and other services as required for operations in Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.gbttelecom.com.