In brief: Viatel euronetwork gets French go ahead

NEWS Viatel has received French approval to complete construction of its European telecoms network. The company has partially completed its pan-European voice system, but needed the go-ahead from the French authorities. Viatel can now finish building the transmission locations and submarine cable landing points. The network will link businesses in 13 European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, London and Paris. In order to meet its goal of offering a French service by the end of 1999, Viatel said it is "aggressively pursuing completion of an interconnection agreement with France Telecom".