MADRID, Spain, May 20 -- British Telecommunications PLC's Spanish subsidiary and Nortel Networks Corp. are building what they claim will be the world's largest Internet voice and data network. The high-speed fiber optic network will use Nortel's Internet Protocol technology; the companies say they expect the network to be capable of supporting many million potential customers in Spain.
BT Telecomunicaciones S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-based BT, will begin offering the high-speed data and voice services to residential and business customers early next year. According to Pat Gallagher, BT's European director, the company has spent $640 million to date and plans to spend at least an additional $970 million over the next ten years on its fixed, mobile and Internet interests in Spain.