Cable & Wireless (C&W) is close to landing its second multi-million dollar submarine cable system, which will connect Bermuda to the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

The new cable, which is named CBUS and is approximately 1,000 miles long, is a joint project with a number of partners and runs between Bermuda and Tortola, BVI, forming part of a secure network ring along with C&W Bermuda's Gemini Cable, which terminates in New Jersey.

CBUS will provide high bandwidth services for Bermuda businesses, bringing the Island's undersea cable connections up to the same level as other global financial centres.

Utilising the latest fibre technology, the cable system will offer 700 times the off-Island capacity previously available, while directly linking into C&W's global transmission network. Cable & Wireless has almost 70 undersea cables across the globe, the world's most advanced transatlantic cable network and one of the highest performance and most resilient cable systems available.

Gregory Jordan, chief executive of Cable & Wireless Bermuda, said: "We have committed to a number of long-term strategic investments for the benefit of Bermuda and Bermudians. The new cable which will be fully commissioned later this year is another demonstration of that commitment.

"We have invested over $30 million over the past two years in order to ensure that the island has the infrastructure it deserves and needs for its customers both now and into the future."

The new system is expected to be fully commissioned by the third quarter of 2009.