The first fiber-optic communications cable linking the...

The first fiber-optic communications cable linking the United States and Europe will go into service today, American Telephone & Telegraph Co. said. The cable, designated TAT-8, will carry voice, computer and video calls as pulses of laser-generated light over 3,160 miles of hair-thin glass circuits buried beneath the Atlantic Ocean. TAT-8, which can handle 40,000 simultaneous conversations, took seven years to design, build and install at a cost of more than $360 million. AT&T; owns 34.1% of the cable, British Telecommunications PLC has 15.5% and France Telecom holds 9.8%. The rest is divided among 27 partners.