Bermuda and the Isle of Man are still ironing out use of two potentially lucrative satellite spots that are in close range, Telecommunications Minister Michael Scott said yesterday.

Mr. Scott, in a statement responding to questions from last Thursday, also said that any inference that Bermuda has lost the war that has been brewing between the two islands for use of this area of space for satellite usage was ?categorically? untrue.

?The assertion? that the Isle of Man has won the right to the slot is incorrect since Bermuda and the company that represents the Isle of Man are currently engaged in coordination discussions,? he said.

An Isle of Man Today report running online last week said the jurisdiction?s Treasury Minister Allan Bell said the island?s coffers had been able to re-absorb monies it had set to fund a legal battle against Bermuda over the use of one of two space slots that this Island won the right to in 1983.

Mr. Scott said: ?The truth of the matter is that the proposed satellite networks of both Bermuda and the Isle of Man have been registered with the International Telecommunications Union.

?As a result of, and according to, the ITU Regulations, Bermuda and the Isle of man must now coordinate their satellite slots to ensure that neither causes the other interference.? Mr. Scott said it was not uncommon for parties with rights to satellite slots to have to coordinate with each other.

Bermuda and the Isle of Man have been in conflict over use of their respective slots for a few years mainly due to the fact that the slots are so close.

Mr. Scott said one of Bermuda?s slots ? the Island has outright access to two, and the right to use a third along with some Caribbean countries ? was ?a mere 0.3 degrees away? from the Isle of Man slot.

The tussle over this area of space likely has to do with its location. A slight moderation to the Bermuda slot?s footprint would put it in position to broadcast into the central US, although permission to do so would have to be negotiated.

As it stands under the agreement, Bermuda has the right to beam broadcasts from its two slots into Bermuda, and possibly the UK, and also may now be able to extend that into the European Union.

Bermuda was awarded the right to use the spot ? located at 96.2 degrees west ? at a United Nations broadcasting conference more than 20 years ago, but has yet to actually make good on use of the slot.

The Isle of Man says it is actively trying to attract more satellite operators to its shores, and has said a transaction in the works for five satellites could see 1 billion euros brought into the island?s economy.

Bermuda officials have previously said use of each of its two slots could bring in annual revenues in the region of $850 million, although the net income would be lower. And that development of this business had lucrative business potential, and could be a complement to the Island?s financial services industry.