Venezuela's state-run power company Cadafe will soon offer broadband service over its transmission lines.

China's Zhongxing Telecom Equipment will provide the Internet service to rival the planned powerline-broadband project announced two months ago by Venezuela's largest private power company, EDC.

Cadafe operates Venezuela's backbone power transmission network with an estimated 2.5 million customers. The broadband project involves an investment of $132 million and installation of about 5,600 miles of fiber optics.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International