telecommunications optic giant Global Crossing's network.

Global Crossing and its newly formed joint venture Asia Global Crossing announced they have obtained an agreement with KDD Group for capacity on Global Crossing's state-of-the-art fibre optic network.

Asia Global Crossing is a joint venture between Global Crossing, Microsoft, and SOFTBANK CORP.

Under the agreement, valued at $100 million, KDD Group may use its capacity on the Global Crossing Network to connect customers in Asia, the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

KDD's initial commitment is to Pacific Crossing 1, Asia Global Crossing's undersea cable connecting Japan and the US, which went into initial service in December of last year.

"KDD is one of Asia's largest telecom companies,'' said Darryl Green, president of Asia Global Crossing's Japanese subsidiary. "They have provided high quality and advanced services in Japan and, with this agreement, will now have the unparalleled connectivity around the world that only the Global Crossing Network provides.''