EXHIBIT 8.1
List of subsidiary companies
Name Date of Incorporation Country of Incorporation
--------------------- ------------------------
COLT Telecom Holdings Limited (1) 6 December 1999 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Europe Limited (1) 28 June 1996 England and Wales
Callshop Etc. Limited *(2) 16 October 1995 England and Wales
City of London Telecommunications Limited (2) 16 August 1985 England and Wales
COLT Netherlands Holding Limited (3) 17 April 1988 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Finance Limited (1) 20 January 2002 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Finance Denmark (4)(5) 22 April 2002 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Finance Euro (4)(5) 22 April 2002 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Finance Sweden (4)(5) 22 April 2002 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Finance Switzerland (4)(5) 22 April 2002 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Limited (2) 18 October 1996 England and Wales
COLT Telecommunications Nominees Limited (6) 26 March 2002 England and Wales
COLT Telecommunications *(4)(6) 15 December 1989 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Pension Trustees Limited (2) 16 November 2000 England and Wales
COLT Telecom QUEST Trustees Limited (2) 3 February 2000 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Share Scheme Trustees Limited (2) 2 February 2001 England and Wales
COLT Telecom Austria GmbH *(3) 28 September 1998 Austria
COLT Telecom SA *(3) 16 September 1997 Belgium
COLT Telecom A/S (3) 20 November 2000 Denmark
COLT Telecom Finland Oy *(3) 19 August 2002 Finland
COLT Telecommunications France SAS *(3) 23 October 1995 France
COLT Telecom Holding GmbH *(3) 17 March 1995 Germany
COLT Telecom GmbH *(7) 22 November 2001 Germany
COLT Technology Services India Private Limited (8) 1 April 2004 India
COLT Telecom Ireland Limited *(3) 31 March 2000 Ireland
COLT Telecom SpA *(3) 4 November 1997 Italy
COLT Telecom BV *(9) 28 May 1998 The Netherlands
COLT Telecom Norway A.S. *(3) 9 January 2001 Norway
COLTEL-Servicos de Telecomunicacoes Unipessoal Lda *(3) 17 January 2001 Portugal
COLT Telecom Espana SA* (3) 2 January 1997 Spain
COLT Telecom AB *(3) 11 October 1999 Sweden
COLT Telecom AG *(3) 30 July 1997 Switzerland
COLT Telecom U.S. Corp. (3) 19 November 1996 Massachusetts USA
COLT Internet U.S. Corp. (3) 27 September 1999 Delaware USA
<FN>
Notes:
* Operating Companies.
(1) 100% owned by the company
(2) 100% owned by COLT Telecom Holdings Limited.
(3) 100% owned by COLT Telecom Europe Limited.
(4) A company incorporated with unlimited liability.
(5) 99% owned by the company and 1% owned by COLT Telecom Holdings Limited.
(6) 100% owned by COLT Telecom Limited.
(7) 100% owned by COLT Telecom Holding GmbH.
(8) 99% owned by COLT Netherlands Holding Limited and 1% by COLT Telecom Europe
Limited
(9) 100% owned by COLT Netherlands Holding Limited.
</FN>