Ireland gained a direct link into the global Internet network backbone yesterday as UUNET, part of telecommunications company MCI WorldCom, launched its own Internet hub here.

The company states that its capacity will double the cumulative total of all other Internet service providers in Ireland and will provide faster connections into the US, Europe and Asia.

"Global e-commerce needs a world-class Internet infrastructure equivalent to the capacity and investment which UUNET is deploying in Ireland," said Ms Pat Chapman-Pincher, UUNET senior vice-president, in a statement.