Telecommunication Union, has been named vice chairman of Project Oxygen Ltd., the company that will build and operate Project OXYGEN(tm) Network. As vice chairman, he will be based at the company's Bermuda headquarters, and will be second in charge under Chairman Neil Tagare.

In his new position, Dr. Tarjanne will be involved in every aspect of developing the Project OXYGEN Network, from strategic planning to relations with regulators, carriers, and shareholders. The appointment will become effective March 1, the company said.

"I am happy and proud of having been invited to join the Project OXYGEN team,'' said Dr. Tarjanne. "The concept of a global fibre-optic high capacity network is in my mind the right one for the next decades -- a huge challenge, but mankind will benefit.'' "We are delighted to have the world's best-known and most highly respected telecommunications industry leader join our project,'' said chairman Tagare.

"Dr. Tarjanne will be an equal partner with me in the process of developing, promoting, and running Project OXYGEN.'' Dr. Tarjanne was ITU Secretary-General for two terms, from November 1989 through January 1999. During his tenure, Dr. Tarjanne moved the Geneva-based United Nations organisation towards greater involvement with emerging telecommunications technologies such as the Internet, while strengthening its focus on solving the communications needs of developing countries.