The company s Radiance Optical Ethernet System will consist of a Central Service Platform capable of provisioning Ethernet in one Mbps increments up to a gigabit, a customer premise service switch, and an element and service provisioning management system. Beta testing is underway. The 13,000 km network, which is scheduled for service commissioning in the summer of 2002, will be the first 80 wavelength transatlantic system. The cable will link Long Island and New Jersey in the United States with Cornwall in the UK, and Brittany in France. The cable will use four fiber pairs per leg.
Marine operations are already underway.
Alcatel was selected to build and maintain the network. Dominion Telecom acquired the right to use multiple optical fibers on Level 3's network between Buffalo, Cleveland, Akron, Pittsburgh and Northern Virginia. Colocation space is included in the 20-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. The company has 7,600 miles of inter-state natural gas pipeline.