New World Network, the principal owner of the **Americas Region Caribbean Optical-ring System (ARCOS)**, announced yesterday that it has successfully completed a multi-million dollar network expansion. The expansion more than doubles bandwidth capacity and sets the stage for both significant growth in network data traffic and the introduction of new service features and enhancements.

According to a release from NWN, it is the single largest network upgrade and expansion since the ARCOS network was commissioned in December, 2001. The expansion involved the installation of advanced electronic equipment at 24 ARCOS landing sites representing 14 countries throughout its service region. This new equipment will provide ARCOS owners, and their many customers with much needed additional bandwidth, delivered using traditional Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and new Packet based (IP) standards.

Columbus Communications, which acquired New World Network last September, funded the network expansion to accommodate its customers’ demand for increased broadband capacity. Columbus is the controlling shareholder of **Cable Bahamas**.

With more than 10,000 kilometers of undersea fiber optic network, **ARCOS** combined with Columbus affiliate company subsea networks in The Bahamas and Jamaica, represent the leading undersea broadband fiber-optic cable networks connecting the U.S., Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.