NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — Bermuda-based Global Crossing Ltd., whose fiber- optic network is used by the US Air Force and Microsoft Corp., reported a narrower third-quarter loss because of trimmed real estate and selling costs.The loss declined to $50 million compared with $94 million a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing that didn’t report results on a per-share basis. Sales fell 3.1 percent to $466 million.

Global Crossing, seeking to turn its first profit since 2003, lowered operating expenses by $50 million, including cuts in access, real estate and sales costs. Revenue from Internet usage, which chief executive officer John Legere is trying to boost, rose 16 percent as traditional phone sales fell.

Shares of Global Crossing, which is operated out of Florham Park, New Jersey, fell 61 cents to $26.30 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading.

They’ve gained 64 percent this year as the company used less cash and signed Internet access deals with MySpace.com.

Global Crossing emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection in December 2003.

Temasek Holdings Ltd., Singapore’s state-owned investment company, is Global Crossing’s largest shareholder, with 30 percent of its common shares.

Temasek also owns 100 percent of the company’s preferred shares.