Bestel Sells Dark Fiber to Global Crossing

Mexico City-based Bestel, S.A. de C.V., a long-distance service provider in Mexico and the US, has signed a $53 million sale of dark fiber to Global Crossing Ltd. (Beverly Hills, CA). The sale provides Global Crossing four dark fibers throughout Bestel's existing network in Mexico and along new routes to be constructed in the western and central parts of the country.

Bestel's Mexican network extends nearly 2300 km from Nuevo Laredo, at the US/Mexican border, southward through the major business and population centers of the country, including the Mexican cities of Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. In conjunction with this agreement, Bestel will construct an additional 1800 km of fiber from Guadalajara, up the west coast to Mazatlan, and across the center of the country. Connecting through Torreon to Monterrey, the company will create another redundant fiber ring within the network. This extension of the network positions Bestel as the only carrier in Mexico, other than Telmex, capable of providing fiber optic communications services in the western and central parts of the country.

Grupo Varo (Guadalajara, Mexico) owns 51% of Bestel and Global Light Telecommunications (Vancouver, BC) owns the remaining 49%.