Document:

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                                                                 Exhibit 10.11

                           certified photocopy (stamp)

                         Document register no. 99/00142

                                   Negotiated

                            at Bochum on 14 July 1999

                       Before me, the undersigned notary,

                             Hans-Friedrich Kreyer,

                                   in Bochum,

the following persons appeared today:

1.   Lawyer Richard Leitermann,
     born on 11.03.1961,
     Kronberger Str. 22,
     60323 Frankfurt,

     - identified by presenting his valid German federal identification card
     which included a photograph -,

     acting not on his own behalf but rather on behalf of

1.1  CCG Carriers' Carrier GmbH,
     Karlsruher Str. 2 b,
     30519 Hanover,

     registered in the business register of the Hanover District Court under HRB
     57818, based on the power of attorney conferred on 14.07.1999,

1.2  FirstMark Fiber Holdings L.L.C.,
     Corporate Trust Center,
     1209 Orange Street,
     Wilmington, Delaware 19801, USA,
     based on the powers of attorney conferred on 08.07.1999,

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1.3  Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Dieter Finke,
     born on 28.01.1954,
     Neuer Kamp 20,
     29336 Nienhagen,
     based on the power of attorney conferred on 07.07.1999,

1.4  Dr. Bernhard Josef - called Bernd - Jager, born on 10.06.1963,
     Wilhelm-Levison-Str. 18, 53115 Bonn, based on the power of attorney
     conferred on 07.07.1999,

1.5  Dr. Stefan Sattler,
     born on 20.06.1965,
     Heideweg 41,
     53332 Bornheim,
     based on the power of attorney conferred on 08.07.1999, and

1.6  Lambda Net Communications Mitarbeiter GbR, consisting of the 11 members
     mentioned on the power of attorney, based on the power of attorney
     conferred on 07.07.1999, and

2.   Lawyer Manuela Schurz,
     born on 24.04.1968,
     Waldthausenstr. 33,
     45127 Essen,

     acting not on her own behalf but rather, promising to submit power of
     attorney later, on behalf of GasLINE Telekommunikationsnetzgesellschaft
     deutscher Gasversorgungsunternehmen mbH & Co. KG, Huttropstr. 60, 45138
     Essen, represented by Telekommunikationsnetz-Geschaftsfuhrungsgesellschaft
     deutscher Gasversorgungsunternehmen mbH, at the very same place, with this
     company in turn being represented by the managing director with sole power
     of representation Friedrich Wolf, at the very same place.

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The question of the notary / deputy notary asking for a referral for a
preliminary ruling within the meaning of Section 3 Par. 1 No. 7 BeurkG (German
federal authentication law) is answered in the negative by the person(s)
present.

The parties concerned deposed for the notarial record:

                                  LOAN CONTRACT

                                       AND

                                CONVERTIBLE BOND

                                     between

                           CCG CARRIERS' CARRIER GMBH
                      - hereinafter referred to as "CCG" -

                         FIRSTMARK FIBER HOLDINGS L.L.C.
                                DR. DIETER FINKE
                                 DR. BERND JAGER
                               DR. STEFAN SATTLER
                    LAMBDA NET COMMUNICATIONS MITARBEITER GBR

                                       and

                   GASLINE TELEKOMMUNIKATIONSNETZGESELLSCHAFT
                deutscher Gasversorgungsunternehmen mbH & Co. KG
                       Huttropstrasse 60, Essen / Germany
                    - hereinafter referred to as "GasLINE" -.

FirstMark Fiber Holdings L.L.C., Dr. Finke, Dr. Jager, Dr. Sattler and Lambda
Net Communications Mitarbeiter GbR are the only partners of CCG. Dr. Dieter
Finke is also the sole administrator of Lambda Net Communications Mitarbeiter
GbR and, as such, entitled to represent all the partners of this civil-law
company (GbR).

On 14.07.1999, CCG and GasLINE concluded a contract on the use of optical
waveguides and system technology rooms (the "main contract").

The partners of CCG intend to convert CCG into a public limited company in terms
of German law.

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The parties agree to the following loan contract and to the following
convertible bond.

1.       LOAN CONTRACT

1.1      LOAN

1.1.1    As loaner, GasLINE shall grant CCG a loan of DM 41,000,000.00 (in
         words: forty-one million German marks).

1.1.2    The loan shall be granted by being offset against the payment
         obligations of CCG from the main contract on each of the due dates to
         the amount of DM 4,100,000.00 (in words: four million and one hundred
         thousand ) per year during the ten-year term of the main contract.

1.2      INTEREST

1.2.1    The loan amount granted in each instance shall yield 9 % interest per
         year. The interest shall be due for payment on 01.04. and on 01.10. of
         each year subsequently together with the payments under the main
         contract.

1.2.2    If CCG does not effect payment for the loan or the interest on a due
         date, the interest rate will then be increased during the duration of
         the default to 6 % above the 3-month Euribor rate, but at least 12 %,
         calculated on the total amount granted, provided that this default is
         not cured within fourteen days following the date when CCG was notified
         in writing by GasLINE that GasLINE had not received the payment.

1.3      REPAYMENT

         The outstanding loan shall be due for payment without further notice on
         30.09.2009.

1.4      PREPAYMENT DATE

1.4.1    The loan shall be due for repayment without further notice if CCG comes
         within the scope of a case of insolvency or if a similar case regarding
         the assets of CCG is opened.

1.4.2    If CCG defaults on the payment of the interest in accordance with Item
         1.2.1, Gas-LINE will be entitled to the extraordinary right of
         cancellation, provided that this default is not cured within fourteen
         days following the date when CCG was notified in writing by GasLINE
         that GasLINE had not received the payment. The right of cancellation
         shall expire as soon as CCG has effected all outstanding payments in
         each instance.

1.5      GENERAL

         The place for the repayment shall be the seat of business of GasLINE at
         the time of the payment.

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2.       CONVERTIBLE BOND

2.1      RIGHT OF CONVERSION

         GasLINE has the right to convert the loan into shares of CCG under the
         following conditions:

2.1.1    GasLINE may convert the total amount of the loan from this agreement,
         as defined in Item 1.1.1, into shares of CCG, provided that CCG was
         converted into a public limited company in terms of German law, with
         the consequence that, although a residual term of the main contract may
         continue to exist on the date of the conversion of the loan for the
         settlement in accordance with Item 1.1.2, the obligation of CCG for
         repayment of the total amount of the loan in accordance with Item 1.1
         as well as the running interest shall, however, expire as of this same
         date.

2.1.2    The partners of CCG shall convert CCG into a public limited company in
         terms of German law before 30 June 2001. The accounting equity capital
         of CCG, including capital reserves, following the conversion may not be
         less than DM 60,000,000.00 (in words: German marks: sixty million).
         During the conversion, the partners of CCG must raise a contingent
         capital via the number of shares that must be equivalent to 3 % of the
         sum from the basic capital and the contingent capital of CCG at this
         time. The contingent capital must only serve the purposes of this
         agreement.

2.1.3    If the conversion of CCG into a public limited company in terms of
         German law (including the raising of the contingent capital required in
         accordance with this contract for the conversion of the GasLINE loan)
         is not carried out by 31 December 2001 at the very latest, the interest
         rate defined in Item 1.2.1 will be increased to a rate of 14%. In
         addition, the annual compensation for use of the optical waveguide line
         section will be increased in accordance with the main contract by an
         amount of DM 1,000,000.00 (in words: German marks: one million).

2.1.4    Conversion / conversion relationship

         The conversion shall be carried out versus the non-cash contribution of
         the loan repayment claim. With the conversion of the loan, GasLINE must
         receive at face value the number of shares that are equivalent, at the
         time of the conversion of CCG into a public limited company in terms of
         German law, to 3 % of the sum from the basic capital and the contingent
         capital of CCG. A value-maintenance certificate must be prepared
         stating that the value of the non-cash contribution is equivalent to at
         least the face value of the converted shares.

2.1.5    Premium

         The difference between the total face amount of the shares transferred
         to GasLINE and the amount of the loan, as defined in Item 1.1.1, is to
         be allocated as a premium to the capital reserves of CCG, provided that
         and to the extent that applicable law permits such an allocation.

2.1.6    Conditions of the right of conversion

(a)      Following a waiting period of 4 years after this agreement has been
         signed, GasLINE may exercise the right of conversion in writing at any
         time between the conversion of CCG into a public limited company in
         terms of German law and six months prior to the due date of the loan,
         as defined in Item 1.3. The waiting period shall not be applied in case
         of

         (i)      CCG's going public or

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         (ii)     in case of a direct or indirect change in the control over CCG
                  at the level of its partners.

(b)      The right of conversion can only be exercised in complete form.

(c)      In case of CCG's going public, the right of conversion must be
         exercised, provided that, at the time of CCG's going public, the
         binding offer of a reputable bank for the take-over of the shares in
         CCG acquired by GasLINE in the course of the conversion is submitted to
         GasLINE at a price of at least DM 15 million (in words: German marks:
         fifteen million). The aforementioned amount shall be increased firstly
         by the amount that GasLINE may have to pay in accordance with Item
         2.1.7 Sentence 2, secondly by 5 % (in words: five) in each instance for
         each year after 31 December 2003 in which CCG's going public did not
         take place. Non-exercise of the right of conversion shall cancel the
         right of conversion but shall affect the loan contract.

(d)      GasLINE may transfer the right of conversion to a third party with an
         equally good reputation, provided that:

         (i)      the complete agreement is transferred to a third party and
                  GasLINE does not demand any repayment on the loan amount, as
                  defined in Item 1, from this agreement or from the relevant
                  payment obligation of CCG from the main contract; and

         (ii)     CCG has the right to refuse the transfer of this agreement to
                  a third party within two weeks following the written
                  notification of the third party, provided that the consent is
                  not allowed to be refused unreasonably if the third party is
                  not a competitor or a group company of a competitor of CCG.

(e)      With a view to the shares acquired in the course of the conversion,
         GasLINE is bound to the statute and the partners' agreement dated 21
         April 1999 (Document no. 208/1999 of notary Gunter Waje, Hanover). The
         aforementioned document was available to the parties concerned at the
         time of the notarial authentication in the form of a certified copy.
         After being instructed by the authenticating notary, the parties
         concerned declared that the contents of this document were completely
         known to them and were taken as read as well as the annex to this
         document.

2.1.7    Capital increases at CCG may only be carried out at face value if these
         capital increases are carried out in connection with a reorganisation
         of CCG or with a view to the CCG introduction to the stock exchange. In
         these cases, the contingent capital must be increased accordingly and,
         in case of exercising the right of conversion, GasLINE must pay the
         face value of this increase in the contingent capital to CCG in
         addition.

         As for the rest, capital increases for the purpose of the participation
         of third parties in CCG may be carried out at a reasonable value only.
         The reasonableness is determined in accordance with the regulation in
         Section 12 UmwG (German federal conversion law).

3.       CANCELLATION OF THE MAIN CONTRACT

3.1      The cancellation of the main contract shall not affect the legal force
         of this contract provided that nothing to the contrary has been defined
         in the following text.

3.2      If the main contract terminates for reasons beyond the control of CCG
         before the total amount of the loan has been achieved and GasLINE has
         exercised its right of conversion or would still like to exercise this
         right, GasLINE must pay an amount to CCG that is equivalent to the
         difference between the granted loan that has accrued in accordance with
         Item 1.1.2 and the total amount as defined in Item 1.1.1.

<PAGE>

3.3      The amount of the compensatory payment in accordance with Item 3.2 is
         limited to the difference between the granted loan and the market value
         of the shares of CCG falling to GasLINE.

3.4      GasLINE has, at its own choice, the right to give back shares to CCG
         instead of the compensatory payment. The proportion of shares to be
         given back is determined by the relationship of the residual term of
         the main contract at the time of the cancellation to the term of the
         main contract as defined by contract (e.g., in case of a cancellation
         after five years, half of the shares).

         If CCG is not able to take back the shares for imperative legal
         reasons, the shares shall be taken over by FirstMark; in this case,
         FirstMark agrees to take over the existing payment obligation of
         GasLINE in accordance with Items 3.2 and 3.3 versus CCG. CCG shall
         agree to the take-over of the payment obligation by FirstMark. In this
         case, no claims shall exist on the part of CCG versus GasLINE.

3.5      If, in the cases of Item 3.2, GasLINE does not exercise its right of
         conversion, the amount of the loan shall limited to the granted amount
         at the time of the termination of the main contract. The granted loan
         is due for repayment in accordance with Item 1.3 provided that the
         parties do not reach an agreement to the contrary.

3.6      If the main contract terminates before 30.09.2000 for reasons within
         the control of CCG, GasLINE shall have the right to extraordinary
         cancellation of this contract. In case of the exercise of the right of
         cancellation, the legal consequences shall be determined in accordance
         with legal regulations.

4.       OTHER

4.1      FirstMark agrees to carry out all business activities relating to
         optical waveguide networks exclusively via CCG during the term of the
         main contract.

4.2      The contracting parties of this agreement agree that legal transactions
         between themselves, companies associated with them within the meaning
         of Section 15 AktG (German federal stock corporation law) or otherwise
         associated third parties on the one hand and CCG on the other hand
         shall always be concluded and executed according to market conditions.

4.3      FirstMark Fiber Holdings L.L.C., Dr. Finke, Dr. Jager, Dr. Sattler and
         Lambda Net Communications Mitarbeiter GbR agree to take all measures
         required for a conversion of CCG into a public limited company in terms
         of German law and for the coming into force of the convertible bond.
         They shall not, however, assume any obligations with a view to the loan
         and its repayment. Item 3.4 shall remain unaffected by this provision.

4.4      Following the conversion of CCG into a public limited company in terms
         of German law, all shares of CCG shall provide identical rights and
         obligations.

4.5      Until the exercise of the right of conversion, GasLINE shall receive
         the right to inspect the determined annual financial statements
         including inspection reports. This right shall expire with the lapse of
         the right of conversion.

4.6      If an indirect or direct parent company of CCG goes public at the
         European level, GasLINE will have the right, under the renunciation of
         the right of conversion from this agreement, to demand that shares of
         this European company be transferred to GasLINE at the issue price by
         being set off against the loan amount in accordance with Item 1.1.1.
         This right may only be exercised with respect to the total amount.

         If this going public takes place after GasLINE has exercised its right
         of conversion in accordance with Item 2.1, the number of shares to be
         transferred within the

<PAGE>

         framework of the issue at the issue price is determined by the market
         value of the shares that GasLINE holds in CCG. If GasLINE exercises
         this right of transfer, it must transfer the shares held in CCG to a
         third party to be named by CCG.

         As for the rest, the provisions of this agreement shall be applicable
         for the acquisition of the CCG shares.

5.       GENERAL PROVISIONS

5.1      All alterations of or additions to this agreement, including this
         provision, must be made in writing provided that notarial
         authentication is not required.

5.2      GasLINE and CCG shall each bear half of the costs of the authentication
         of this agreement.

5.3      The legal force of this contract is subject to the suspensive condition
         of the approval by the partners' meeting of GasLINE. The approval must
         be submitted in writing to the other contracting parties no later than
         31.08.1999; an approval received after this date shall be considered to
         be a new offer requiring written acceptance provided that notarial
         authentication is not required.

5.4      If this agreement is null and void in whole or in part, the remaining
         parts shall remain valid. Invalid provisions must be replaced by such
         regulations that bring about the same economic effect. The same
         provision shall be applied to gaps in this agreement.

5.5      This agreement is subject to German law exclusively. The parties agree
         to Hanover as the place of jurisdiction.

         The record was read out to the parties concerned in the presence of the
         authenticating notary and was then approved and personally signed by
         them.

         /s/
         ---------------------------

         /s/
         ---------------------------

         /s/
         ---------------------------

         /s/
         ---------------------------<PAGE>

                                                            Exhibit 10.12

                         CONNECTION SERVICE CONTRACT*

Between

Louis Dreyfus Communications SA, a limited company with registered capital of
66,140,000 francs, registration no. at the Paris Companies Register No.
414.946.194, registered office 87 avenue de la Grande Armee 75016 Paris,
represented by the Managing Director, Mr Frederic Gastaldo,

(hereinafter referred to as "LD COM")

                                                 Of the one part

And

Lambdanet Communications France SAS, a simplified joint stock company with
registered capital of 40,000 Euros, registration no. at the Lyon Companies
Register No. 429 165 541, registered office 1 boulevard Vivier Merle, 69003
Lyon, represented by Mr Thierry Mileo, Chairman,

(hereinafter referred to as "the Client")

                                                 Of the other part

The term "Parties" collectively describes LD COM and the Client.

INTRODUCTION :

-        The present Site Service Contract defines the rules to which the hire
         and long term provision by LD COM of one or more Connections including
         maintenance services, are subject (hereinafter referred to as the
         "Connection Service"). The Connection Service constitutes one of the
         services which LD COM supplies to its clients. It may where necessary
         be supplemented by one of the other services offered by LD COM,
         especially the Site Service and Accommodation Service, the conditions
         for each of which have been accepted by the Client.

-        The Client wishes to develop a telecommunications network in France and
         in Europe. The Client has filed an application for a telecommunications
         operator licence with the telecommunications regulation body on 21
         March 2000, in order to install and operate a telecommunications
         network open to the public and to supply telecommunications services to
         the public, pursuant to Articles L 33-1 and L 34-1 of the Postal and
         Telecommunications Laws (hereinafter referred to as the "Licence"). The
         Client would like to rent a certain number of optic connections in
         order to set up its telecommunications infrastructure.

-        The Client wishes to ensure Optic Continuity of its telecommunications
         network in France.

THIS HAVING BEEN STATED, THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN AGREED:

-----------------------
* Portions of this agreement are confidential and have been omitted and filed
  separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request
  for confidential treatment in accordance with Rule 406 under the Securities
  Act of 1933, as amended. Asterisks, for example "*****," have been inserted
  to indicate that information has been deleted.

<PAGE>

1) DEFINITIONS

Special Conditions
Defines Appendix 3 describing the conditions intrinsic to each Connection rented

Contract or Connection Service Contract
Defines the present Contract, its appendices and supplements including, in
particular, its Special Conditions

Connection
Defines the linking of the Connections to the Client's telecommunications
network or to other fibre optics, this linking particularly being made at each
end of the Connection or at each end of the Optic Links making up the Connection

Optic Continuity
Relates to the rental service for Optic Links supplied by LD COM, the support
for which is constituted by the usual F.O.N.s complying with the Technical
Specifications.

Date of Availability
Defines the date on which LD COM invites the Client to carry out Acceptance of
the Connection as defined in Appendix 3, on a Connection by Connection basis.

Date of Commissioning
Defines the date on which, in the absence of Major Reservations, the Certificate
of Acceptance is signed or, in the event of Major Reservations, the date on
which such reservations are lifted.

Malfunction
Defines a disruption in the Optic Continuity not falling within the category of
an Interruption.

Active Equipment
Defines all the technical equipment belonging to the Client permitting an Optic
Link to be used and activated.

Linear Equipment
Defines the connection chambers, distribution chambers, splicing chambers and
any other permanent or temporary element belonging to LD COM, connected to,
incorporated into or necessary for the operation, maintenance, repair,
re-installation, rehire, protection and removal of the F.O.N.s, not including
either the cable containing the F.O.N.s or the F.O.N.s themselves connected to,
incorporated into or necessary for the operation, maintenance, repair,
re-installation, rehire, protection and removal of the F.O.N.s, not including
either the cable containing the F.O.N.s or the F.O.N.s themselves.

Black Fibre Optics (F.O.N.)
Defines the black fibre optics of the monomode type and devoid of any
telecommunication equipment, rented to the Client by LD COM, matching the
Technical Specifications and designated by the abbreviation "F.O.N.".

Confidential Information
Defines the information described in Article 10 of the Contract.

Infrastructure
Designates (i) all the elements making up the Connection (including the Optic
Links, the Linear Equipment), (ii) the cable containing the F.O.N.s, and (iii),
where necessary, the Technical Sites.

Interruption
Defines a problem preventing any operation of an Optic Link or not adhering to
the Technical Specifications.

<PAGE>

Connection
Defines everything contained in one (or several) Optic Links and Linear
Equipment enabling operation to be guaranteed. Their outline is described in the
Special Conditions.

Optic Link
Defines a pair of Black Fibre Optics terminated by connectors between two
determined points (Departure Site and Arrival Site). Optic Link may equally be
used as a plural or singular term, this term will encompass all of the Optic
Links rented to the Client. An Optic Link must comply with the Technical
Specifications.

O.D.F.
Defines an LD COM optic dispatcher (Optical Distribution Frame)

River Section
Defines the part of a connection which is immersed at the bottom of a river,
stream or canal bed and the associated river or canal beds.

Terrestrial Section
Defines any part of a connection which does not come under the definition of a
River Section.

Delivery Points
Defines the extremities of the Connections made available, as described in the
Special Conditions, made up of connectors for which the technical specifications
are supplied by the Client two (2) months prior to the Date of Availability.

Acceptance
Defines the procedure for acceptance of the Optic Links as defined in appendices
1 and 5 of the Contract.

Major Reservation
Defines an anomaly preventing any operation of the optic link or not adhering to
the Technical Specifications, or the absence of a connection file as defined in
Appendix 5.

Minor reservation
Defines any anomaly which does not constitute a Major Reservation.

Restoration
Defines the final repair of the Optic Link, after Interruption, in compliance
with the Technical Specifications.

Re-establishment
Defines the temporary reinstatement of an optic continuity enabling the Optic
Links to be operated by the Client after an Interruption without necessarily
adhering to all the original Technical Specifications.

Technical Site
Defines premises or part of premises enabling the Client to install certain
items of Active Equipment which are linked up to the Connection. The
availability of these Technical Sites is the subject of a separate agreement

Technical Specifications
Defines appendix 6.

The words and terms defined above may equally be used in the singular or plural
in the Contract.

<PAGE>

2) OBJECT

The object of the present documents is to define all the terms and conditions
under which:

-        LD COM rents to the Client and provides availability of the Optic Links
         making up the Connection(s) as defined in the present documents and
         detailed in the Special Conditions for the duration defined in the
         Contract, in return for payment of a fixed sum, ************
         *************************************************************
         ****************,
-        LD COM provides maintenance of the Connection(s) for the benefit of the
         Client, in accordance with Appendix 2 of the present documents;
-        The Client will take possession of the Connection(s) following
         Acceptance, in accordance with the provisions of Appendices 1 and 5 of
         the present Contract.

Subject to the availability of new Connections, including the rights of way
relating thereto, each new Connection on French territory, requested by the
Client during a period of ********* years as from the signing of the Contract
and provision of availability by LD COM, will be the subject of new Special
Conditions and will be the subject of a supplement to the present contract. If
the Client wishes to benefit from a rental on new Connections for a term
identical to the present terms and in return for payment of a fixed
non-reimbursable price, such rental will be subject to the same terms and
conditions including price conditions as those laid down in the Contract with
the exception of the conditions of payment which are as follows: (i) - *** of
the price on signature and *** on the Date of Commissioning of the new
Connections or (ii) any other condition accepted by the Parties. The Client may
only benefit from the provisions in this paragraph for a maximum of ** pairs of
F.O.N.s in total per Connection including the F.O.N.s supplied under the present
Contract.

All of the components making up the connection are subject to special conditions
of access and attendance, in particular on the part of the owners and managers
of the foundations on which the Infrastructures are installed.

Authorisations granted by LD COM pursuant to the present documents as well as
the special agreements arising therefrom do not confer on the Client any actual
right over the said domains.

The present Contract does not confer any right of ownership on the Client in
respect of the items made available thereto.

3.       TERM

The Contract will come into force on the date of signature for (i) a period of
twenty (20) years commencing on the Commissioning Date of the last Connection or
(ii) the lifetime, subject to Article 5, of the last Connection still in service
if this is less than the aforementioned period of twenty (20) years. It is
understood that for each Connection the Client will benefit from exclusive right
of use in accordance with the stipulations in the present documents for (i) a
period of twenty (20) years as from the Commissioning Date for that Connection
or (ii) the lifetime of that Connection, subject to Article 5, if it is less
than twenty (20) years.

The term set in the present clauses is firm. As the present Contract is entered
into for a definite term, it is not open to early cancellation, with the
exception of the cases stipulated in the Articles 8, 9 and 11.5 of the present
Contract.

4.       PRICES - CONDITIONS OF PAYMENT

4.1 The price

In return for LD COM renting out and making available the Connections defined in
the Special Conditions for the term defined herein, the Client undertakes to pay
the fixed amount of TWO HUNDRED AND

------------------
* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

SEVENTY MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED
FRANCS(270,794,700 FF) corresponding to the total of the fixed sums on a
Connection by Connection basis as described in the Special Conditions (the
"Price").

Payment of the Price shall be made as follows :

-        15% (fifteen per cent) of the Price on the Contract Signature Date
         payable no later than sixty five (65) days from receipt of the invoice
         by fax, the date of the fax confirmation report counting as authentic;
-        45% (forty five per cent) of the Price paid Connection by Connection on
         the Commissioning Date of the Connection concerned payable no later
         than sixty (60) days from receipt of the invoice by fax, the date of
         the fax confirmation report counting as authentic;
-        40% (forty per cent) of the Price paid Connection by Connection six (6)
         months after the Commissioning Date for the Connection concerned
         payable no later than thirty (30) days from receipt of the invoice by
         fax, the date of the Fax confirmation report counting as authentic.

This Price is not reimbursable even in the event of early cancellation of the
Contract, with the exception of the cases specifically stipulated in Articles 8,
9 and 11.5 and the risk associated with such non-reimbursement has been accepted
by the Client.

4.2      Connection Charges

The charges for connection of the F.O.N.s amounting to a total of five million
two hundred and fifty thousand francs (5,250,000 FF) will be the object of a
fixed payment as specified in the Special Conditions and will be invoiced on a
Connection by Connection basis as from the Connection Commissioning Date and
payable by the Client on the date the invoice is received by fax, the fax
confirmation report date counting as authentic.

4.3      Taxes and levies

Throughout the term of the Contract the Client will pay the taxes and similar
levies of any type whatsoever, which it owes or may owe to the Government, to
any local authorities, or to any other public bodies due to use of the
connection or Optic Link, pursuant to the legislation in force.

No payment of any type whatsoever (and particularly rental charges for
occupation of public domains) shall be due by the Client to the owners and
managers of the foundations on which the Infrastructures are installed. However,
LD COM cannot guarantee the Client that it will not be liable under the laws
applying for any tax, as user of the Connection.

In the event of a change in the tax laws during the term of the Contract
affecting one of the Parties, its co-contractor may in no instance bear the
consequences thereof, especially those of a financial nature.

4.4      Invoices

Where relevant, taxes, duties and levies in force as at the date on which the
invoice is issued, will be added to the price.

Invoices intended for the Client will be sent by fax and post to the address
indicated by the Client.

Subject to the express stipulations in the Contract, settlement of invoices
issued by LD COM will take place by bank transfer into the bank accounts
detailed and according to the terms and conditions shown on the invoice. Payment
thereof will take place no later than forty five (45) days from the date the
invoice is received by fax, the fax confirmation report date counting as
authentic.

<PAGE>

Invoices still unpaid on expiry of the time allowed may, in the event of a
formal notice by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt producing no
effect for more than eight (8) days, be liable to addition of a fine.

This fine shall correspond to one and half times (1.5 times) the Legal Rate of
Interest, in force as at the date of invoice, for the period covering the length
of time between the due date of payment and the date of actual payment.

4.5      Letter of intent

In order to guarantee LD COM payment of the full Price owing by the Client, the
said Client undertakes to take out the following guarantee:

A letter of intent from the company directly or indirectly controlling the
Client, within the meaning assigned by Article L355-1 of the Law of 1966, by
which the said company will take the necessary action for the Client to pay LD
COM without delay any sum owing in terms of principal amount, interest, charges
and accessories and shall substitute for the Client in the event of default by
the latter in its obligations to pay the Price.

5.       GUARANTEES

LD COM undertakes, at its own expense, for a period of ******** years as from
its Commissioning Date, to replace all Connections or parts of Connections
stipulated in the Contract which no longer comply with the Technical
Specifications due to exceeding their life expectancy, so that the Client may
continue to benefit from that Connection in accordance with the Technical
Specifications.

Beyond the ***** year, in the event of the life expectancy of a Connection or a
portion of a Connection turning out to be less than the term still to run in the
rental of the said Connection, LD COM undertakes, at the request of the Client,
to replace the said Connection or portion thereof so that the Client may
continue to benefit from that Connection, in return for a price set pursuant to
the following formula:

         The external cost actually borne by LD COM and justified at the request
         of the Client multiplied by **** corresponding to the project
         management multiplied by the number of pairs of FONs from which the
         Client benefits under this Contract the whole divided by the total
         number of pairs of fibres in the cable.

LD COM undertakes to take advantage of all the legal and contractual guarantees
it has against its own co-contractors. Furthermore, LD COM undertakes to
guarantee the Client peaceful enjoyment of the connections throughout the term
of this contract.

Subject to any other express guarantee given by LD COM in respect of the
Contract, the Client will not benefit from any other express, legal or implicit
guarantee relating to the Connections described in the Special Conditions.

6.       LIABILITIES - INSURANCE

6.1      Liabilities

Each Party shall be liable only for direct material damage it causes to the
other Party or to its personnel, in executing the Contract. The total amount of
the sums due by each Party pursuant to the implementation of their liability
under the Contract may not be greater than three per cent (3%) of the Price paid
by the Client as described in Article 4.1.

6.2      Insurance

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<PAGE>

Each of the Parties has taken out a Third Party Liability policy covering the
risks associated with the Contract, with top level insurance companies.

In this respect, the Third Party Liability policy thus taken out by a Party must
in particular cover any damages it may cause to the other Party, its property or
its personnel, neighbours and third parties.

Each Party must provide, at the other's request, any declaration of insurance
certifying that the above policies have been taken out.

7.       INFORMATION - CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES

The Parties shall inform each other of events of any type liable to have
consequences on the execution of the Contract and the correct operation of the
Connection.

In order to ensure correct execution of the obligations arising under the
Contract, the Parties agree to set up a co-ordination committee, the operating
rules and attributions of which are described in Appendix 7.

No decision by the committee may have the effect of modifying the provisions of
the Contract.

8.       CANCELLATION, RIGHT OF WAY, DELAY PENALTY AND RESOLUTIVE CLAUSE

8.1      Principles

No cancellation of the Contract may take place before expiry of the Contract,
except in the cases stipulated hereunder and those stated in Article 11.5 below.

8.2      Failure to deliver

In the event of LD COM being unable to deliver a Connection on the anticipated
Date of Availability, the Client may officially warn LD COM to deliver the said
Connection as from the sixth week of delayed delivery compared with the Date of
Availability. If LD COM is unable to deliver the said Connection within six
weeks as from the date of the official warning, the Client may cancel the
Connection concerned with immediate effect and claim full reimbursement of the
price of the undelivered Connection without prejudice to LD COM's payment of the
delay penalties stipulated in the present Article 8.

In the event of one or more partial cancellations occurring pursuant to the
provisions of the previous paragraph and concerning more than ***************
***** of the linear total of the long distance Connections or ***************
***** of the linear total of the Mainland Connections, the Client may terminate
the Contract and claim full reimbursement of the Price, subject to giving the
Connections already supplied, back to LD COM.

8.3      Non-execution of an essential obligation

In the event of one of the Parties failing to execute any one of the essential
obligations incumbent thereon under the Contract, at the request of either of
them, the Parties shall institute a consultation procedure on the causes of the
said failure, the solutions enabling the situation to be remedied and, where
necessary, the timetable for such solutions to be put into practice.

In the absence of an agreement within one (1) month of the start of the
consultation procedure, or if the Party at fault does not implement the
solutions chosen by joint agreement, the other Party may send a registered
letter with acknowledgement of receipt containing official warning to remedy the
said failure within fifteen (15) days.

If, on expiry of that time limit, the official warning has had no effect, the
party invoking the lack of execution may, with immediate effect, cancel the
Contract or solely the Connection concerned if the non-executed essential
obligation affects that Connection only.

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<PAGE>

In the event of cancellation of the Contract or of one of the Connections by the
Client subsequent to the non-execution of an essential obligation by LD COM, the
Client may claim from LD COM and obtain one-off reimbursement of part of the
Price, calculated as a percentage, ************************************
*************************************************** as per the table of
reimbursement described in appendix 4, subject to the connections concerned
being returned to LD COM.

In the event of one or more partial cancellations occurring pursuant to the
provisions of the present article 8.3 and concerning more than **************
***** of the linear total of the long distance Connections or **************
***** of the linear total of the Mainland Connections, the Client may cancel the
Contract and claim one-off reimbursement of a part of the Price, calculated as a
percentage, ************************************************************
************************************ as per the table of reimbursement
described in appendix 4, subject to the connections already supplied being
returned to LD COM.

It is understood that in the event of the Contract or one of the Connections
being cancelled by LD COM subsequent to the Client failing to execute an
essential obligation, the Price paid by the Client in respect of the Contract or
cancelled Connection shall in no case be reimbursed.

The consequences of cancellation of a right to occupy a private or public domain
will not constitute failure to execute an essential obligation.

8.4      Cancellation of the rights to occupy private or public foundations and
         compensation:

In the event of final loss of LD COM's right to occupy foundations belonging to
public or private entities due to a fault which could be directly attributable
to LD COM (its agents and sub-contractors), LD COM undertakes to supply an
alternative solution to the Client, at LD COM's own expense, to enable the said
Client to continue to use the Connection concerned by such loss. In the event of
an alternative solution of this type being impossible, the Client may cancel
that Connection with immediate effect and claim and obtain one-off reimbursement
of part of the Price ****************************************************
******************************* as per the table of reimbursement
described in appendix 4, subject to the connections concerned being returned to
LD COM.

In the event of one or more partial cancellations occurring pursuant to the
provisions in the previous paragraph and concerning more than ***************
***** of the linear total of the long distance Connections or **************
***** of the linear total of the Mainland Connections, the Client may cancel
the Contract and claim one-off reimbursement of part of the Price, calculated as
a percentage **************************************************************
*************** as per the table of reimbursement described in appendix 4,
subject to the connections already supplied being returned to LD COM.

8.5      Cancellation of the Contract in the event of withdrawal or non-renewal
         of the Licence.

In the event of withdrawal or non-renewal of the Licence due to decision by the
competent administrative authorities considered final, each of the Parties may
cancel the Contract with immediate effect subject to written notification one
(1) month prior to the date of cancellation.

It is understood that in the event of the Contract being cancelled subsequent to
withdrawal or non-renewal of the Client's Licence, the Price paid by the Client
under the cancelled Contract shall in no case be reimbursed.

8.6      Delay penalties

In the event of a delay, in comparison with the Date of Availability stipulated
in appendix 3, occurring with any one of the Connections stipulated in the
Special Conditions, the following delay penalties shall apply :

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<PAGE>

-        *** of the total price of the Connection per week of delay as from the
         third week of delay having commenced subsequent to the Date of
         Availability for that Connection as stipulated in the Special
         Conditions.

The delay penalties applying for each Connection are expressly limited to
*********** of delay as from application of the first delay penalties;

These delay penalties constitute the full and entire compensation for any loss
which the Client may suffer due to such delay, the Client consequently waives
applying for any additional damages in respect of any delay by LD COM in the
delivery of the Connections stipulated in the Special Conditions.

8.7      Resolutive Clause

It is expressly agreed between the Parties that, in the event of the Client not
being issued the Licence subsequent to a decision by the competent
administrative authorities becoming final, the present Contract shall be
cancelled automatically. Each of the Parties shall be released from all rights
and obligations under the present Contract, and LD COM must return the Client
the part of the Price it has already paid, less the sum of one million francs
(1,000,000 FF) retained by LD COM as fixed compensation excluding any other
damages relating thereto, within forty five (45) days of the date on which the
Contract is cancelled.

9.       FORCE MAJEURE AND SIMILAR CASES

Under the terms of the Contract, any circumstance outside the control of the
Parties and unavoidable, making it impossible for the Party affected to execute
its obligations, shall be considered as constituting a case of force majeure.

In addition to the cases usually admitted according to precedent, the Parties
agree, moreover, that the following shall in particular be counted as cases of
force majeure within the context of the Contract:

-        act by third parties having caused losses such that they directly
         render it impossible for LD COM to intervene within the time limits
         set,

-        events making intervention by LD COM impossible (demonstration on the
         public area, external strikes etc.),

-        action of water making it objectively impossible for LD COM to attend
         within the time limits (e.g.: overflowing of river banks, currents
         greater than 1 knot...), or the freezing of river banks or the river
         itself,

-        act by public or private entities, as manager or owner of the
         foundations on which LD COM has right of occupation for the needs of
         the Connection concerned, making it impossible for LD COM to intervene
         within the time limits (especially the exceptional time limit for
         access imposed for reasons of public concern),

-        An alteration to the placement of the Infrastructures due to
         modifications imposed by any public or private entity, as manager or
         owner of the foundations on which LD COM has right of occupation. In
         this case, the Parties shall immediately contact each other in order to
         examine the conditions in which such modification may be realised,
         minimising the risks to continuation of the Client's operation as far
         as possible.

-        Any decision by managers of rights of way which would prevent LD COM or
         its subsidiaries from having access to the Connections, provided that
         such a decision is not the direct consequence of a proven fault by LD
         COM.

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* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
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<PAGE>

Neither Party shall be considered at fault or in breach of its contractual
obligations as long as non-execution of its obligations is prevented by a case
of force majeure or similar. However, the Parties shall do everything possible
to meet their obligations.

If one of the Parties considers that a case of force majeure or similar may
hinder execution of its obligations, it must notify this to the other Party as
soon as possible by fax and registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

The Parties shall consult each other to limit the effects of the force majeure
or similar event.

If a case of force majeure or similar event prevents LD COM from executing an
essential obligation for a period of more than three (3) months, each of the
Parties may cancel the Contract according to the conditions laid down in Article
8.3 above

10)      CONFIDENTIALITY

The Parties undertake to maintain strictly confidential both within their own
group and their subsidiaries and in relation to third parties, information or
documentation of any type hereinafter referred to as "the Confidential
Information" they may be obliged to exchange with each other in the context of
the present Contract or of which they might otherwise obtain knowledge in any
way whatsoever and in any form whatsoever, in respect of the present Contract.

11)      COMMON PROVISIONS

11.1     Exclusivity

Up to completion of the Contract, the Client shall have exclusive possession of
the Connections from which it benefits.

11.2     Access to the Connections

Unless LD COM has given its express permission in advance, the Client has no
access to the Connections made available and must not in any circumstance move,
relocate, disturb, handle or be in contact in any way whatsoever with the said
Connections with the exception of the end terminals connected to the Client's
Active Equipment.

11.3     Assignment of the Contract

The present Contract is entered into intuitu personae between the Parties. The
rights and obligations of the Parties as arising from the present contract
documents cannot be transferred or assigned to a third party by any method
whatsoever without the express prior written agreement of the other Party.
However, it is expressly agreed that this agreement may not be refused in the
event of assignment or transfer to a company within the group of the assigning
Party; it being specified that "group" means subsidiaries, sister companies and
other companies in which more than thirty per cent (30%) is directly or
indirectly held by the same ultimate parent company.

11.4     Sub-letting

The Client is not authorised to sub-let all or any of the Connections until LD
COM's prior written consent is obtained.

11.5     Change of control - merger

In the event of a third party directly or indirectly taking control of a Party,
within the meaning assigned by Article 355-1 of Law No. 66-537 of 24 July 1966,
the Party shall still be obliged to adhere to all the rights

<PAGE>

and obligations incumbent thereon under the Contract. Moreover, in the event of
merger of a Party, either by take-over by a third party company, or by creating
a new company, as in the case of scission, or partial contribution of assets,
the rights and obligations incumbent upon that Party under the present Contract
shall be incumbent in full upon the company taking over, or on the new company
or on any other entity or person coming into the rights of that Party. In the
event of failure to execute the obligation described hereunder, the Party which
is the victim of such non-execution may cancel the Contract with immediate
effect pursuant to the provisions of Article 8.3.

The Party concerned by the merger, scission or partial contribution of assets
must inform the other Party of the said operation fifteen days at most after
final realisation thereof.

11.6     Contractual relations

The invalidity or illegality of any provision in the Contract which is not of an
essential nature shall not jeopardise the validity of the other provisions. The
Parties agree to replace the invalidated provisions by provisions as close as
possible to their joint intention as expressed in the context of the Contract.

Any modification of the Contract shall be the subject of a written endorsement
signed by the duly authorised representative of each of the Parties.

The Parties expressly agree to contact each other in the event of modification
of the legislative and statutory instruments in force as at the date on which
the contract is signed, concerning the subject thereof, if such modification is
liable to substantially affect the conditions of execution of the Contract.

11.7     Waiver

The fact of one of the Parties not availing itself at a given moment of any of
the rights conferred thereon by the Contract, cannot be interpreted as waiving
any subsequent use of any of the said rights.

12)      DISPUTES

The Parties shall endeavour to reach an amicable solution on any dispute liable
to occur between them due to the interpretation or execution of the Contract.

In the absence of an amicable agreement within a reasonable time, any dispute
relating to execution and interpretation of the Contract shall fall within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the PARIS Commercial Court.

13)      LAW APPLYING - TRANSLATION

The Contract is subject to French law.

If translations of these documents, or of the documents attached thereto, are
made, the French version alone shall be deemed authentic.

14)      ELECTION OF DOMICILE - NOTIFICATION

The Parties elect domicile at the addresses shown at the head of these
documents. Furthermore, the Parties nominate the following persons as mutual
contacts throughout the term of the Contract:

For LD COM :
- the Commercial Manager
- the Financial Manager

For the Client :
- the Technical Manager
- the Financial Manager

<PAGE>

Any modification to these items must be imparted to the other Party by the Party
concerned in the form of a written notification.

15)      CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS

The Contract is made up :

         - of the present documents in particular comprising :
         - Appendix 1 : Connection Service
         - Appendix 2 : Connection Maintenance
         - Appendix 3 : Special Conditions
         - Appendix 4 : Table of Reimbursement
         - Appendix 5 : Acceptance
         - Appendix 6 : Technical Specifications
         - Appendix 7 : Co-ordination Committee.

In the event of contradiction between the articles of this contract and the
appendices, the latter shall take precedence.

Drawn up in duplicate in Paris on 26 April 2000

         THE CLIENT                         LOUIS DREYFUS COMMUNICATIONS

Name :    THIERRY MILEO                     Name : FREDERIC GASTALDO

Title :   CHAIRMAN                          Title :   MANAGING DIRECTOR

Signature : /s/                             Signature : /s/
           ------------------------                    -----------------------

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX 1
                               CONNECTION SERVICE

1.       DESCRIPTION OF THE CONNECTION SERVICE

1.1      Availability

LD Com shall deliver the connections to the Client on a date indicated in the
Special Conditions and described as the "Date of Availability". As from that
date, the Client may carry out Acceptance of the Optic Links as specified in
Article 1.2 hereunder.

The limit of LD COM's liability is constituted by the Delivery Points. On the
Date of Availability, the Client may commence operation of the Connections
subject to prior payment of the sums due in respect of the invoices relating to
the various Services supplied by LD COM.

1.2      Acceptance

Acceptance of the Connections shall be made by the Parties at the invitation of
LD COM. The Acceptance shall take place in accordance with the procedure
described in Appendix 5, subject to the provisions hereunder.

LD COM shall inform the Client of the date of the Acceptance procedure, by
letter or fax at least eight (8) days in advance. If it is impossible for the
Client to attend the Acceptance on the date stated, it must notify LD Com in
writing two (2) days prior to the initial Acceptance date and offer a new date
which may not be more than twenty one (21) days later than the initial
Acceptance date. Any postponement of the initial date will also involve
postponement of LD COM's obligations inherent in that date.

Failure by the Client to adhere to the above procedure will result in the said
Client being deemed to have accepted the original Acceptance Date as proposed by
LD COM and it must attend the Acceptance location. Should the Client or its duly
empowered representative not be present, Acceptance of the Connection will be
pronounced, without the Client being able to dispute the contents thereof or put
forward reservations subsequently.

During the Acceptance operations and on completion of the tests, the Parties
shall proceed on site to sign the certificate of Acceptance for the Optic
Link(s).

In the event of Minor Reservations being issued on signing the Certificate of
Acceptance, the Parties shall jointly define the time limit given to LD COM to
lift the said reservations and shall show this time limit on the said
certificate. These Minor Reservations are not considered to call into question
the compliance of the Connections with the Technical Specifications. The lifting
of the said reservations by LD COM shall be the subject of a letter or fax sent
to the Client; it will not give rise to a new Connections Acceptance procedure.

In the event of Major Reservations being issued when the Certificate of
Acceptance is signed, the Parties shall jointly define the time limit given to
LD COM to lift the said reservations and shall show this time limit on the said
certificate. This time limit does not imply postponement of LD COM's obligations
at that date.

The lifting of the Major Reservations shall be the subject of a second
Acceptance procedure. LD COM will inform the Client of the date of the said
Acceptance by letter or fax, at least eight (8) days prior to it taking place.
In the event of it being impossible for the Client to attend the second
Acceptance on the date stated, the said Client must advise LD Com in writing two
(2) days prior to the date of the second Acceptance and suggest a date which may
not be more than five (5) days later than the date of the said Acceptance.

<PAGE>

The Connection Commissioning Date corresponds to the date on which the
Certificate of Acceptance is signed without reservations or with Minor
Reservations, or the date on which the certificate of second Acceptance is
signed, in the case of Major Reservations.

2.       CONNECTION OF THE LINK

Connection of the Links will take place at the Delivery Points. Whatever the
case, LD COM or its agent(s) shall alone be empowered to intervene to make the
said Connections, the Client may observe at the operations.

The Parties shall meet as soon as possible to examine whether it is necessary to
contact the managers of the neighbouring networks to carry out the
Connection(s).

If the Client or persons designated by the Client wish to observe or participate
in the Connection operation, the Client undertakes to bring to the knowledge of
the firms present during the operations, all safety rules sent by LD COM.
Moreover, LD COM will offer the Client, within forty five (45) days of a written
request from the Client and subject to the feasibility of such an operation, a
Connection plan starting from certain connection chambers for its Link to the
connection chambers of other networks already in existence, in accordance with
the technical and financial conditions as well as a schedule to be defined
mutually between the Parties.

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX 2
                             CONNECTION MAINTENANCE

1.       QUALITY

LD COM guarantees the Client maintenance of Optic Continuity for each Connection
specified in the Special Conditions.

LD COM or its agents or sub-contractors (acting under LD COM's entire
responsibility) shall provide preventive and corrective maintenance of the
Connections.

LD COM shall do everything in its power, subject to the Client supplying the
information and authorisations necessary, to ensure maintenance of the
connections belonging to the Client and situated between the LD COM
infrastructures and the Client's sites. It is understood that the time limits
for attendance, except where given for information purposes, and the penalties
laid down in this appendix, shall not apply to this maintenance service.

The Client may benefit from this service on a maximum of four (4) connections on
each of the towns served by LD COM's mainland network as specified in Appendix
3.

This maintenance will be free of charge with regard to preventive maintenance
and invoiced at a price equivalent to the external costs actually borne by LD
COM and proven at the Client's request, multiplied by *** (corresponding to
the project management) for corrective maintenance.

2.       PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Preventive maintenance procedures shall be carried out by LD COM or its agents
taking all steps to limit interruption to the services operated by the Client.

Preventive maintenance consists of carrying out :

-        every year: visual inspection of the part standing out from the
         Infrastructure unit.

-        every year: reflectometry measurement and an optic assessment at one
         thousand three hundred and ten and one thousand five hundred and fifty
         (1310 and 1550) nm on a pair of control fibres available along the
         route of the Connection which will be sent to the Client.

Preventive maintenance particularly includes labour and replacement of faulty
equipment and upkeep of maintenance documentation and log book.

Within the framework of preventive maintenance operations, LD COM or its agents
may be obliged to carry out works for the needs of keeping the domain or the
Connections reliable; in this case the Parties agree that :

A list of the works scheduled by LD COM or its agents, giving rise to planned
suspensions of the Connection Service, will be sent to the Client, at least
twenty one (21) days before commencement of such works. In its prior
notification, LD COM or its agents shall specify the date, time, place and
expected duration of the works scheduled as well as their nature and the
potential technical consequences to the Connection.

If, due to the urgent need to intervene in view of the risks of Interruption
involved for the Connection, the above period of twenty one (21) days cannot be
adhered to, LD COM or its agents shall inform the Client without delay that such
works are to be carried out, indicating the nature and potential technical
consequences to the network as well as the expected duration. The consequences
of such works shall be dealt with as per the terms and conditions for corrective
maintenance.

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<PAGE>

 LD COM or its agents shall then take the steps necessary to limit any
disturbance to the Connection, in consultation with the Client, and as far as
possible, will carry out the works in a time slot compatible with the Client's
business activity, the above to be the subject of a written agreement negotiated
reasonably between the Parties.

3.       CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE

3.1      Method of notification

On noting a Malfunction or Interruption, the Client will notify LD COM's
Call-out Centre by telephone and then by fax, the details of this centre being
sent to the Client. The request for call-out must include the information
required to identify the problem and the location where it has been discovered.
The period of Malfunction or Interruption will be measured as from receipt of
the said fax, also corresponding to the starting point for the time limits set
out in Article 3.2 below.

The Client will not ask LD COM or its agents to attend until it has made sure
that the fault does not originate from its own Active Equipment.

The Client's requests for attendance, in French or English, are receivable on a
24 hour, 7 days a week basis.

On receipt of a request for attendance, LD COM will designate a contact person
who will keep the Client informed on the progress of the diagnosis and
reinstatement of Optic Continuity. The Client will provide access to the
premises and to the ODF, and all information necessary for LD COM's engineer or
agents, responsible for repairing the fault.

For any Malfunction or Interruption, the Parties will consult each other to
remedy the problems with necessary speed and to set the dates for repair.

At its own expense, LD COM will make a diagnosis and repair the Optic Link in
the event of Interruption or Malfunction, with the exception of an Interruption
or Malfunction caused by the Client.

In the case of Malfunction or Interruption due to the Client, or due to a
contractor acting on behalf of the Client, call-outs and repairs shall be
carried out at the Client's expense. LD CON may then offer its assistance to the
Client to enable it to solve its problems. In this case, LD COM will then
invoice its services to the Client.

Any intervention by LD COM, unjustified or for test purposes, requested by the
Client, and not involving any repair, will be borne by the Client for a fixed
price of ten thousand (10,000) French Francs.

3.2      Time limit for re-establishment

In the event of Interruption to one or more of the Optic Links, LD COM or its
agents shall endeavour to re-establish Optic Continuity without additional
charge to the Client, within the time limit expressed below.

In the event of replacement Optic Links being available, the maximum length of
time for Re-establishing Optic Continuity, is set at *************.

Subject to the availability of an unlit fibre rented by the Client under this
Contract, not affected by the Interruption and mirroring the Optic Link
interrupted, this time limit will be reduced to ********** hours. The Client
undertakes to provide in advance a list of Connections for which the maximum
time limit for Re-establishing Optic Continuity may be reduced to *********
hours. For the needs of this paragraph it is understood that a non-lit mirror
fibre has the same departure O.D.F. and the same arrival O.D.F. as the Optic
Link interrupted. In the event of the Client needing to attend to its own O.D.F.
to permit restoration of the Optic Link interrupted, LD COM's obligation will be
limited to attending to its own O.D.F. within ********* hours. In this case, no
penalty can be applied to LD COM.

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* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

In all cases where the replacement Optic Links are not available, LD COM
undertakes to Re-establish Optic Continuity within a maximum of *******
hours for the terrestrial sections of the Connection *********** hours for
the river parts of the Connections.

The lengths of time before Re-establishment of Optic Continuity are set as from
the request for attendance made by the Client in accordance with the procedure
described in Article 3-1 above.

Restoration of Optic Continuity will take place as quickly as possible and as
far as possible within a period of ********** working days, whatever the case,
the time limit and the date being agreed jointly between the Parties. LD COM or
its agents shall inform the Client that Optic Continuity is Restored by letter,
fax or electronic mail.

In the case of Re-establishment the Parties may agree that the Re-establishment
can constitute a Restoration.

3.3      Delay penalties

If, following an Interruption, no Re-establishment was made on expiry of the
time limits indicated in Article 3.2, for reasons attributable to LD COM
(including its sub-contractors) and having occurred other than as a result of a
case of Force Majeure or due to act by third party, LD COM shall pay the Client
penalties calculated as follows:

-        ** of the amount determined by the length of the Connection in
         kilometres as described in the Special Conditions multiplied by ***
         ******************* per hour of delay between one (1)and eight (8)
         hours over and above the time limit for Re-establishment specified
         above,

-        ** of the amount determined by the length of the Connection in
         kilometres as described in the Special Conditions multiplied by ***
         ******************* limited to 500 kilometres, per hour of delay
         between eight (8) and sixteen (16) hours over and above the time limit
         for Re-establishment specified above,

-        ** of the amount determined by the length of the Connection in
         kilometres as described in the Special Conditions multiplied by ***
         *****************, limited to 500 kilometres, per hour of delay
         exceeding sixteen (16) hours over and above the time limit for
         Re-establishment specified above,

The total amount of the penalties per Connection annually may not exceed 100% of
the amount determined by the length of the relevant Connection in kilometres as
defined in the Special Conditions multiplied by ***************************.

Over and above (55) fifty five hours per year Service Interruption on a
terrestrial Optic Link or over and above (100) one hundred hours per year
Service Interruption on a river Optic Link, for reasons attributable to LD Com
and occurring other than as the result of a case of Force Majeure, LD COM will
pay the Client penalties equivalent to the amount determined by the length in
kilometres of the Connection made up of the Optic Link in question, as defined
in the Special Conditions, multiplied by *************************.

In the event of the Client confirming on a given Connection during the course of
a year, more than one hundred and ten (110) hours Service Interruption on a
terrestrial Optic Link or two hundred (200) hours a year Service Interruption on
a river Optic Link, for reasons attributable to LD COM and occurring other than
as a result of a case of Force Majeure, the Client may cancel the Connection
pursuant to Article 8 of the Connection Service Contract.

3.4      Log book

All call-outs carried out by LD COM or its agents to the Optic Links and the
plugs, as well as the events which have given rise thereto, must be recorded by
LD COM or its agents in a registered entitled "Log

------------------
* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

Book", kept on the premises of LD COM or its agents, an extract of which may be
sent out on request justified by the Client.

For each call- out by LD COM or its agents, this "Log Book" must comprise as a
minimum, the following information for each Interruption: date, starting and
ending time, nature of the problems found, work carried out and sub-assemblies
replaced, inspections carried out, persons attending. Once a year, LD COM will
inform the Client of the condition of the Optic Links over the previous twelve
months.

3.5      Acceptance procedure after Interruption

So that the Client may check that the Optic Link which sustained the
Interruption or the Malfunction complies once more with the Technical
Specifications defined in the Special Conditions, on Re-establishment or
Restoration the Parties shall jointly carry out a simplified Acceptance
procedure, in accordance with the provisions below:

LD COM shall notify the Client, by letter or fax (hereinafter referred to as the
"Letter"), that it has proceeded to Re-establish Optic Continuity. The
completion of LD COM's involvement and consequently the end of the period of
Interruption, pursuant to the provisions of Article 3.2, shall be constituted by
the time shown in the letter sent to the Client.

Prior to sending the Letter, LD COM will have checked that the Optic Links
comply with the Technical Specifications. The Client's silence, for 72 hours
following receipt of the Letter with acknowledgement of Receipt, will count as
approval by the said Client of the procedures and Acceptance constituted by the
Re-establishment of the Optic Links and shall discharge LD COM from all
liabilities relating to the Re-establishment and Restoration of the Optic Links.

If within the aforementioned 72 hour period, the Client disputes the result of
the procedures carried out by LD COM, LD COM will invite the Client to carry out
its own Acceptance during which the Connection will be interrupted. This time
limit for dispute cannot incur the liability of LD COM especially pursuant to
Article 3.3.

The letter must contain the new optic measurements made after Re-establishment
or Restoration.

3.6      Special Works

The Client may ask LD COM to carry out special maintenance works not covered by
the Contract. This type of request must be the subject of an estimate drawn up
by LD COM and shall require an order form to be signed, including details of the
works as well as the total amount for such intervention.

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX 3
                               SPECIAL CONDITIONS

This Appendix contains a description of the Connections supplied by LD COM under
the Contract with the price per Connection, the Dates of Availability as well as
the departure and arrival sites for each Connection. The distances provided for
each Connection are supplied for information purposes only. Likewise the exact
number of Sites may vary marginally in comparison with the information supplied
in the present appendix.

<PAGE>

LONG DISTANCE CONNECTIONS
NORTH RING

<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>             <C>            <C>        <C>                        <C>
                                            SPAN

                                    DEPARTURE                 ARRIVAL
                                    SITE                      SITE

Connection        Connection                                          Estimated distance
reference                           Description  type         Descr.  type

N-1               ***************  *********  *********
                                                  ****

         etc                        etc.

Linear long distance deducted
at the edges of the towns           Fixed price for  Cost of PRO connections            Date made
                                    the supply of    and installations                  available
in distance       in value          2 pairs of FONs

etc                                 etc.
</TABLE>

------------------
* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

LONG DISTANCE CONNECTIONS
CENTRAL RING

<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>             <C>            <C>        <C>                        <C>
                                            SPAN

                                    DEPARTURE                 ARRIVAL
                                    SITE                      SITE

Connection        Connection                                                    Estimated distance
reference                           Description  type         Descr.  type

C-1      ***********              **********  *********
                                                  ****

         etc                        etc.

Linear long distance deducted
at the edges of the towns           Fixed price for  Cost of PRO connections             Date made
                                    the supply of    and installations                  available
in distance       in value          2 pairs of FONs

etc                                 etc.
</TABLE>

------------------
* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

LONG DISTANCE CONNECTIONS
CENTRAL RING

<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>             <C>            <C>        <C>               <C>
                                            SPAN

                                    DEPARTURE                 ARRIVAL
                                    SITE                      SITE

Connection        Connection                                                    Estimated distance
reference                           Description  type         Descr.  type

N-1      ********************  *********  *********

                                      Site

         etc                        etc.

Linear long distance deducted
at the edges of the towns  Fixed price for  Cost of PRO connections             Date made
                                    the supply of and installations             available

in distance       in value          2 pairs of FONs

etc                                 etc.
</TABLE>

------------------
* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

MAINLAND CONNECTIONS
         ACCESS TO PR.O.s

<TABLE>
<S>               <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>
Connection        1st feeder        Estimated        Availability      Fixed price      Connection
reference                           distance to                        for the supply   charges
                                    PRO LDCom                          of 2 pairs of    PROs and
                                                                       F.O.N.           installations

etc.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX 4
                             TABLE OF REIMBURSEMENT

Year

Updated value              *******
of the rental up  (updated
to year n                  rate)

Value of remaining
rental as from end
of year n

Percentage of  the
connection Price
reimbursed

Example of                 ** ***
reimbursement:    *******
Paris-Conde                (price of the
Link                       connection)

------------------
* Omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

<PAGE>

                                  APPENDIX 5 :
                              ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURES

1.       INTRODUCTION

The Acceptance Procedure will comprise (i) the measurements carried out on site
by LD Com as described below and also (ii) the presentation of a connection file
as specified below. The optic measurements will be carried out on all the fibres
made available to the Client, Optic Link by Optic Link. These measurements will
concern:

-        Fade per unit length

-        Localised fade (loss at connectors, splicing and irregularity of the
         fibre)

-        Optic Balance

-        Chromatic dispersion

-        PMD

2.       FADE PER UNIT LENGTH AND LOCALISED FADE

2.1      Objectives

This measurement estimates the optic continuity, connection faults, splicing,
fade per unit length and the fibre length.

Operational method

The following operations and data must be complied with to measure retro-scatter

-        A measurement of the retro-scatter will be taken fibre by fibre in both
         directions (O -> E, E -> O) at a length of 1550 nm for Optic Link
         cables in the long distance infrastructure, and 1550 nm and 1310 nm for
         Optic Links in the Mainland Infrastructures, with the exception of
         Connection M 18 (Rheims 2. Feeder).

-        The same equipment (reflectometer, damping coil and connection lead)
         for each of the 2 measurement directions.

-        The refraction index will be chosen according to the constructor's
         instructions or if the latter are not available, by taking an average
         utilisation value set at 1.47 (G652 fibre).

<PAGE>

-        The pulse widths below are used for the measurements

<TABLE>
<S>                                  <C>                                <C>
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Length of Optic Link                 LESS THAN 20 Km                    GREATER THAN 20 Km
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Pulse width                          LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 500 ns       LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 5 ns
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
</TABLE>

Loss of splicing

The average algebraic value of the fade on splicing is calculated for each
fibre, from measurements made in both directions. This average for each Optic
Link must be less than or equal to 0.2 dB.

Similarly, the maximum value of a splice must be less than or equal to 0.3 dB
(average measurement in both directions). No reflection peak will be acceptable
on splicing done by welding.

Loss of connectors

Designation of connectors is carried out using a damping coil minimum length
2000 metres and with optic properties close to those used on the Optic Link
measured. The average algebraic value of the fade at the connector is calculated
from the measurements taken in both directions. The maximum value of a connector
fitted with a double plug must be less than or equal to 0.5 dB.

Loss due to irregularities

The maximum value of the fade, produced by an irregularity and measured in both
directions, must be less than or equal to 0.1 dB (algebraic average in both
directions)

Fade per unit length

The fade in the fibre per unit length (average in both directions measured at
the point of service delivery) must be less than or equal to 0.35 dB/Km for a
wave length of 1310 nm and must be less than or equal to 0.25 dB/Km for a wave
length of 1550 nm

3.       OPTIC BALANCE

3.1      Measuring the balance by reflectometry

Objective

This measurement enables the overall attenuation of the Optic Link to be
estimated.

Operational method

-        The retro scatter will be measured fibre by fibre in both directions (O
         -> E, E -> O) at a length of 1550 nm for Optic Link cables in the long
         distance infrastructure, and 1550 nm and 1310 nm for Optic Links in the
         Mainland Infrastructures.

-        The same reflectometer and the same damping coils and optic jump leads
         will be used for each of the 2 measurement directions.

3.2      Measurement of the Balance by insertion

Objective

This measurement enables the fade in an Optic Link to be measured by subtraction
of the exiting optic power measured by the injected optic power.

<PAGE>

Operational method

The following operations and data must be complied with to measure the fade on
each Optic Link

-        For each of the 2 directions of measurement, the same equipment will be
         used (Transmitter and optic receiver, connection leads)

-        Before measuring the Connection Balance, calibration of the receiver
         will take place from the transmitting source and jump leads. This
         calibration will lead to a reading of the PO reference value of the
         power received.

-        After calibration the transmitter will remain under power whereas the
         receiver will be conveyed to the other end of the connection. At the
         same time, the jump lead will be connected to the end where the optic
         source is situated.

-        The equipment used will directly deliver the attenuation of the Optic
         Link in dB after returning to 0 dB on calibration.

-        After completion of the Link measurements, a new calibration will take
         place in order to make up for any errors in manipulation. If a
         discrepancy greater than 0.5 dB is found with the first reference
         value, a second series of measurements will be carried out.

4.       CHROMATIC DISPERSION

Objective

This measurement enables the chromatic dispersion of an Optic Link to be
assessed.

Operational method

-        A measurement of the chromatic dispersion will be carried out fibre by
         fibre.

-        This measurement is carried out in one direction only.

5.       PMD

Objective

This measurement enables the PMD of an Optic Link to be measured.

Operational method

-        A measurement of the PMD will be carried out fibre by fibre by
         interferometry.

-        This measurement is carried out in one direction only.

6.       CONNECTION FILE

The connection file will include the optic measurements and the identifiers for
the optic links and the delivery points.

Furthermore, LD Com will supply the verification plans relating to the
Connections, within three (3) months of Acceptance.

<PAGE>

                                  APPENDIX 6 :
                            TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

As at the Date of Availability, the F.O.N.s must comply with ITU standard G652.

The contractual values are repeated below. Any measured value greater than the
value calculated using the formula above is counted as a major reservation. The
values apply Connection by Connection.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Specifications                           Average                   Maximum
<S>                                      <C>                       <C>
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Splicing                                 etc.
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Connector
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Irregularity
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Fade per unit length (1310 nm)
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Fade per unit length (1550 nm)
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Chromatic dispersion 1310 nm
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Chromatic dispersion 1550 nm
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
PMD
---------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                  APPENDIX 7 :
                             CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

1.       PRINCIPLES

The Parties shall keep each other informed of events of any type liable to have
consequences on execution of the Contract and correct operation of the
Connection or Connections described in the Special Conditions.

In order to ensure correct execution of the obligations arising from the
Contract, the Parties agree to set up a Co-ordination Committee (hereinafter
referred to as the "Committee") with operating rules based on the principles
jointly drawn up in relation to management of the project. No decision by the
Committee can have the effect of altering the provisions in the Contract.

2.       COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE

At the first Committee meeting, LD COM and the Client shall submit a specific
list of the persons in charge of the different aspects which may be tackled
during Committee meetings. Each of the Parties will nominate its representatives
on the said Committee, the number and skill areas of whom, for each Party, will
be at least those described below :

-        A Project Manager ;
-        A Project Head for each area of activity:
                  - GC Fibres and Transmission for the Client
                  - Sites and Fibres for LD COM;

The Project Managers must  :
-        be skilled in the technical fields relating to the services carried out
         in the context of the Contract,
-        possess the usual delegations of power enabling them to make day to day
         decisions, throughout the progress of the project,
-        have full and entire authority on behalf of each Party over the
         personnel involved in the project,
-        centralise the information and circulate it to the project heads
         concerned,
-        ensure the Contract and the schedule are adhered to.

If possible, the Project Managers should be the same people throughout the
duration of the project. In response to a request considered reasonable from one
of the Parties, the other must offer another person as Project Manager.

The Project Heads shall organise and run the meetings on their particular
project, ensure problems are solved, define action to be taken and make sure
their planning schedules are adhered to.

3.       REGULARITY

Between the date the Contract is signed and one week after the date of
Acceptance of the Last Connection stipulated in the Special Conditions, the
Committee will meet as follows, twice a week, the days being set at the first
meeting:

-        A project progress meeting with the Project Heads (level 1) either in
         person , or by telephone,
-        A project management meeting with the PROJECT Managers and the Project
         Heads (level 2), in person.

Beyond the date of Acceptance of the last Connection stipulated in the Special
Conditions, another committee will replace the first one and the regularity of
the meetings of this new Committee will be reduced to one meeting every year or
any other period the Parties decide at the last level 2 meeting during the
period described above.

<PAGE>

4.       DECISIONS AND MINUTES

The Parties will take turns in drawing up the minutes of the Committee meetings.
Each set of minutes will be approved and signed by each of the Parties at the
end of the meeting or start of the next meeting. The Party which has drawn up
the draft minutes will Email a copy of the said minutes to the persons listed
therein as soon as possible and in any case, before the next meeting of the same
level.

It is understood that no decision taken at Committee meetings will have the
effect of altering the provisions of the Contract.

5.       CO-OPERATION RELATING TO CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS, RIGHTS OF OCCUPATION
AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIBRE OPTIC CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CLIENT'S P.O.P.S AND LD
COM'S DELIVERY POINTS

The aforementioned Committee will also be responsible for monitoring the civil
engineering works, management of rights of occupation and the construction of
fibre optic connections between the Client's P.O.P.s and LD COM's points of
delivery.

Furthermore, the principles selected by the Parties concerning the works
monitored by that committee are as follows:

-        the Parties undertake to do everything in their powers to use the same
         sub-contractors;
-        LD COM undertakes to assist the Client in the procedures necessary
         including any transfers of rights of way, in order to file the
         applications required, and where necessary, obtain permission from the
         highways and other administrative bodies needed to execute the fibre
         optic connections between the Client's P.O.P.s and LD COM's points of
         delivery. It is understood that the Client will bear any external
         costs, proven at the Client's request, which may be incurred by LD COM
         regarding this paragraph.

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