360networks, the owner of TeleBermuda International, yesterday announced that it has just landed the 360americas cable near Caracas, Venezuela.

This is the first direct fibre optic connection between the United States and Venezuela.

This section of 360americas connects Venezuela with Boca Raton, Florida and Tuckerton, New Jersey via a 2,900 mile undersea fibre optic cable.

It is scheduled to enter commercial service by mid-March 2001.

Upon scheduled completion in early 2002, 360americas will span 18,000 miles and provide direct connectivity between major cities in the United States, through Bermuda to Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.

The total capacity of the network will be 1.28 terabits per second -- enough capacity to handle 16 million simultaneous telephone calls or send 1.3 million digital photographs per second.

"We are very pleased to be the first to provide a direct link between the United States and Venezuela,'' said Scott Lyons, vice-president of the submarine division at 360networks.

"A significant number of data and telecommunications service providers are looking to access Venezuela as a result of the recent deregulation of the region's telecommunications market. We are well-positioned to provide these carriers seamless access between Venezuela and our global network.''