Bermuda-based Global Crossing Limited's Carrier Services Division has signed a two-year, $24 million agreement with Tampa-based Z-Tel Network Services Inc.

The deal will see Global Crossing provide the carrier with private line, dedicated Internet, toll-free, CIC routing and termination services.

Z-Tel combines intelligent Internet technologies and traditional telephone service and offers cost-effective local and long distance packages that include Internet and telephone-accessible features such as group messaging, multiple-number call forwarding, voice mail, pager and e-mail notification.

The company operates these services in Florida and Texas, and soon plans to enter Massachusetts.

"Global Crossing offered us a flexible, customised product set that maximises our existing intelligent switching assets and leverages the agreements we have in place on the local level in markets across the country,'' said David Malfara, president of Z-Tel Network Services.

"Working with Global Crossing, we're not limited to a one-size-fits-all product offering. Global Crossing tailored its services to our business, making it easy for us to provide a cost-effective, reliable, end-to-end solution to our customers.'' Brian V. Fitzpatrick, president of North American Carrier Operations for Global Crossing, said: "Z-Tel has successfully tapped into a market that is clamouring for a simplified way of keeping in touch with customers, coworkers and family members.

"Its bundled Z-Line product, which already has more than 50,000 subscribers, is a testament to the fact that people want to streamline their communications.

"Z-Tel simplifies things even further by obtaining communications services through Global Crossing, providing its customers access to the capacity, reliability and backroom operations that are setting the standard in the wholesale carrier industry.''