HELSINKI, Finland, May 14 -- Telia International Carrier (Telia IC) has announced the sale of 48 fibers to Telewest Communications broadband communications and media group. The infrastructure is on the eastern UK leg of Telia IC's Viking network, which was recently developed through the acquisition of the assets of 360 Networks in February. Telewest will use the fiber to extend its broadband network capabilities in the UK. "Telia International Carrier recognizes dark fiber is still an active market," says Erik Heilborn, president of Telia IC. For companies looking to build particular types of customer solution or to develop a network in terms of expansion or increasing redundancy, buying fiber is far more cost-effective than digging up roads and laying down new infrastructure in the ground." Telia has also acquired from Telewest three pairs of fiber between Leicester and Birmingham, completing a figure-eight topography across the UK, it said.