Global Light's ARCOS-1 Fiber Optic Submarine Cable Deployment Begins.

Business/High-Tech Editors

VANCOUVER, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2000

Global Light Telecommunications (AMEX:GBT) is pleased to announce that its affiliate New World Network Holdings Ltd. has made significant progress with the construction of the ARCOS-1 submarine broadband fiber optic cable network.

The cable manufacturing (including fiber optics and armouring) is progressing according to schedule. Production of two of the 24 submerged cable segments is now complete and other segments are in various stages of completion. The first two segments have successfully passed all factory tests and The Manta, a Corning owned cable-laying vessel, has been loaded with the two complete cable segments and is en-route to the Caribbean. Physical installation is scheduled to begin later this month.

The first segment to be installed will run from Crooked Island in the Bahamas to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. Installation of this segment will run from late September through mid-October. The second segment, connecting Nassau, Bahamas to Cat Island, Bahamas, will be laid from mid-October through mid-November.

In March 2000, the ARCOS-1 consortium signed a turnkey supply contract with Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke (NSW), a Corning Company, Siemens, and Tyco Submarine Systems to build ARCOS-1.

Wolfgang Giebel, Managing Director of NSW stated that, "The Cable Ship Manta had been provisioned and loaded with the first cable lengths and was on its way on schedule to begin laying in the Bahamas. I am pleased to see this challenging project being 100 % on schedule. This means the logistics of cable manufacturing, including the fiber allocation from NSW's parent company Corning, the spread mobilization, the laying and ploughing of the cables, and the shore end preparations match exactly. The joint project manager reports that all consortial partners are absolutely dedicated to their commitment."

Upon completion, ARCOS-1 will provide a state-of-the-art broadband communications network connecting the United States to Mexico and other countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The 8600-km cable will land in fifteen different jurisdictions in the Caribbean region offering 15 Gbps of fully redundant capacity supporting a wide range of broadband services. The system can later be incrementally upgraded to a total capacity of 960 Gbps simply by changing the electronics at the cable landing sites.

"The successful financing and commencement of this project makes Global Light's Latin and South America division a serious contender in the telecom bandwidth infrastructure space," said David Warnes, President & CEO of New World Networks. Preliminary discussions with capacity users in this region indicate that there is a great demand for bandwidth that can only spell success for ARCOS-1. This unique hybrid project demonstrates the power of combining the private sector and the carrier sector and encompassing some 15 countries and 24 landings. I am particularly pleased to have both the funding and the organization fully in place with the cable itself going to plan and on schedule. We commend NSW/Corning, Siemens and Tyco as they are valuable partners in this undertaking. This project is another validation of Global's strategic position of providing telecom services to under-served markets."

New World Network, Ltd., a Bermuda company, owns approximately 88% of ARCOS-1, In June of this year, New World Network Holdings, Ltd. ("New World"), completed a debt and equity financing package for an aggregate amount of US$415 million. In connection with the equity financing, Global Light Telecommunications Inc., (GBT:AMEX) Vancouver, B.C., invested $50 million to purchase a controlling ownership interest in New World.

Siemens Project Ventures (SPV), Erlangen, Germany, an investment arm of Siemens AG and Barclays Capital Inc., New York, N.Y. also invested in New World equity at that time. The financing necessary for the construction of ARCOS-1, which is estimated to be approximately US$400 million including operating costs and burn rate.

New World will be a telecommunications carrier's carrier. ARCOS-1, which is designed to be a state-of-the-art submarine broadband fiber optic network, will connect the U.S. to Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean landing in 15 jurisdictions in the Caribbean. New World's partners in ARCOS-1 are approximately 30 carriers throughout the region including GTE, MCI Worldcom, AT&T and Cable & Wireless as well as Avantel, Cantv and Codetel. This unique ownership structure combines the advantages of an independently owned company and the benefits of strategic partnerships with local carriers that provide landing rights, backhaul and interconnection to local networks.

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements made here. Factors which may affect actual results include; the success of the Company's strategic focus, competition, and the ability to secure financial resources as required.

No stock exchange has reviewed or approved the contents of this news release.