Global Crossing, Microsoft and Softbank announced Friday they have completed a joint venture that will build high-speed network pipes to link several Asian countries.
The Asia Global Crossing venture, announced September 8, will provide advanced telecommunications services over a network that connects Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines. That network in turn will be connected to the Americas and Europe over Global Crossing's existing undersea cables.
Formation of the joint venture was completed on November 24, according to the companies.
In addition to undersea links among the aforementioned Asian countries, Asia Global Crossing will build urban fibre-optic rings and other terrestrial connections. The companies intend to further extend the infrastructure to serve Thailand and Indonesia, they said. Asia Global Crossing's service offerings will include Web hosting, electronic commerce and low-cost telephony.