NEW YORK Greek government said it would invest 2.1 billion euros to build a new fiber-optic network, the project will open the second half of 2009 an international tender will include fiber optic network construction, maintenance and operations.

NEW YORK, September 5 reported that the Greek government's economic ministers and the Minister of Communications have indicated that it intends to invest in the construction of a new fiber-optic network to complete broadband network upgrades to increase the cable capacity.

Greek Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis (GeorgeAlogoskoufis), said: "As a national policy, we have decided to invest in the construction of a modern fiber-optic network, which will greatly improve the daily lives of the Greek people. The three-seven-year The project, estimated to cost 2.1 billion euros (three billion U.S. dollars), the project when completed, will provide high-definition TV, video telephony, quicker Internet access as well as other high-bandwidth services. "He also noted that the project would take public-private partnerships to be exploited in a way, acceptable to the European Investment Bank investment.

Greek Minister of Communications Qi Darkis (CostisHatzidakis) said that the project will open the second half of 2009 an international tender, the contract period of 30 years, will include a fiber optic network construction, maintenance and operations.

It is understood that there are currently 12% of Greeks have begun to use high-speed Internet service, while in 2004 this proportion is only 0.1%.