<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 4.2

                                      NOTE
                                                                  March 23, 2000


     On March 23, 2000, for value received, TYCO SUBMARINE SYSTEMS LTD., a
Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the "Issuer"), hereby promises to pay
to TYCO GROUP S.A.R.L., a company organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg (the "Lender"), the unpaid principal amount of this Note issued by
the Issuer to the Lender pursuant to Article Three of the Master Loan Agreement
(as defined below), and to pay Interest on the unpaid principal amount of the
Loan in accordance with Master Loan Agreement on the Interest Payment Date in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Master Loan Agreement and as
specified as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
     Note Series Designation:                          A
     Number of Notes in Series:                        1
     Note Certificate Number:                          1001A

     Issue Date:                                       March 23, 2000
     Maturity Date:                                    March 23, 2010
     Term of Notes:                                    10 years

     Currency of Note:                                 U.S. Dollars
     Principal Amount of Note:                         US$200,000,000
     Principal Repayable in Installments:
             Number of Installments:                   1
             Principal Repayment Dates:                March 23, 2010
             Amount of Principal Installment:          US$200,000,000

     Interest Rate:                                    7.25% p.a.
     360 or 365 Day Year:                              365
     Interest Payment Dates per Year:                  March 15, June 15, Sept. 15 and Dec. 15

     Place of Payment of Interest and Principal:       Per Section 3.2
<CAPTION>
     Redeemable Prior to Maturity:                     Yes
     Redemption Price:                                 Redemption Date           Redemption Price as
                                                       During  Period            Percentage of Principal
                                                       --------------            -----------------------
<S>                                                    <C>                       <C>
                                                       03/23/00 - 03/22/01       105.0%
                                                       03/23/01 - 03/22/02       104.0%
                                                       03/23/02 - 03/22/03       103.0%
                                                       03/23/03 - 03/22/04       102.0%
                                                       03/23/04 - 03/22/05       101.0%
                                                       On or After 03/23/05      100.0%



     Priority:                                         Pari Passu
     If Subordinated,
     Designation of Notes Series Senior to this Note:  N/A
     Subordinated as to Payment of Principal:          N/A
     Subordinated as to Payment of Interest:           N/A
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

     Payments of principal and Interest under this Note shall be made in United
States dollars by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank
account or accounts as advised from time to time by the Lender in accordance
with Section 12.4 of the Master Loan Agreement.

     This Note is a Note evidencing an advance under the Master Loan Agreement
dated as of March 23, 2000, between the Issuer and Lender, which provides, among
other things, for the issuance of Notes in one or more series by the Issuer up
to an aggregate principal amount of Seven Hundred Million United States Dollars
(US$700,000,000), or its equivalent in any other currency (as determined on the
respective Issue Dates of all such Notes), for the repayment of such Notes, and
for the acceleration of the maturity of said Notes following an event of
default, all on the terms set forth in said Master Loan Agreement and in this
Note.

     Unless otherwise specified herein, all capitalized terms herein will be as
defined in the Master Loan Agreement.

                              For and on Behalf of
                              TYCO SUBMARINE SYSTEMS LTD.


                              By:      _______________________________
                                       Neil R. Garvey
                                       President


                              By:      ________________________________
                                       Michael A. Robinson
                                       Treasurer