Inshore and deep-water marine surveys have been completed ahead of the laying of the new undersea telecommunications cable that will link Bermuda with the US.

The $26 million project is on schedule, says Cable Co., the company set up jointly by KeyTech, North Rock Communications and Transact, to oversee it.

When it is installed, the 875-mile Challenger will be the first locally owned international telecommunications cable and the investing companies believe it will enable them to become far more competitive, by taking away the need from them to pay for capacity on the Brasil Telecom cable.

A statement from Cable Co. yesterday read: "The manufacturing of the marine cable, power feed equipment, and landing stations are all on target. With the calm North Atlantic waters, the marine installation is well in hand."

Vicki Coelho, of the Marketing Committee of Cable Co. stated: "We are thrilled that the critical path for the project is on schedule. When one looks at the complexity and the various milestones that must be completed, we are very excited to report the project is on plan and on budget."