Cable & Wireless Communications, London, has announced a US$650 million upgrade called "Network 2000" aimed at expanding its entire national network to provide high-speed voice and data services. The company has a three-year agreement with Nortel that involves sharing research, costs, and employees. The investment is expected to increase the capacity--by a factor of 24--of some fiber-optic links, compared with those used in other parts of Europe. The expansion will link with Cable & Wireless Communications` backbone networks around the world. Nortel will manufacture most of the equipment in Northern Ireland.