MCI WorldCom Inc. (WCOM): The second-largest U.S. long-
distance phone company plans to invest about $1.6 billion in
Europe this year, partly to triple the length of its network to
11,000 kilometers (6,820 miles) and create local rings for
cities, the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, citing
Chief Executive Bernard Ebbers. The company aims to reach 70
percent of the business world with its own fiber-optic lines, up
from the current 45 percent, Ebbers said, adding that having its
own lines will help cut costs. Ebbers said MCI, which has 22
million customers worldwide, doesn't rule out future
acquisitions, such as in the mobile phone business, the paper
said. MCI fell 1 3/4 to 83 1/8. |
