Sempra Communications, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), announced it will build a 200-mile-long fiber-optic telecom link from San Diego through Northern Mexico ending in Phoenix. The project will provide fiber-optic access to the Tijuana and Mexicali border markets and basic telephone and broadband access to underserved regions of Baja California. The international line also will offer increased access to areas east of California where it is currently costly and time-consuming for telephone companies to reach. Construction on the fiber-optic line will begin in September 2001 with completion slated for the end of 2002.
This new fiber-optic line will utilize some of the infrastructure created by Sempra Communications' sister company, Sempra Energy International. The fiber-optic line will run from San Diego south to Tijuana, Mexico, cross eastward to Mexicali, Mexico, and then run east to Yuma, Ariz., terminating in Phoenix. Employees of these companies on either side of the border will, for the first time, be able to call or e-mail each other without dialing international access codes.
Sempra Communications will hold an open season beginning next month to solicit bids for capacity on the network.
About Sempra Communications:
Sempra Communications is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a San Diego-based Fortune 500 energy services holding company. Sempra Communications provides telecommunications infrastructure and services. For more information, visit www.sempra.com.