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Mr. Skeet
asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he estimates an optical fibre circuit will be laid across the Atlantic linking the United Kingdom and the United States of America; and what increase in efficiency will be possible.
Mr. Butcher
The prospective owners are currently planning to lay an optical fibre cable across the Atlantic for entry into service in 1988. This is expected to result in considerably lower unit costs as compared with existing cables and the digital method of transmission will enable a wide range of new services to be transported economically.