Government's war with an illegal callback company has taken a new turn with its telephone lines being cut off for a second time and the possibility that court proceedings will follow.

The Telecommunications Department said it was taking advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether or not GlobalTel could face criminal or civil charges over the alleged malicious use of the system.

Hiram Edwards, Telecommunications Officer, said he had been "bowled over'' by the aggressive way GlobalTel had tried to continue operating since Government banned callback companies in mid-December.

And he said Government would do all that it could to ensure that GlobalTel, and two other companies, Call Save and Fiber Tel, gave up on the Island. The Royal Gazette reported on Saturday how Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb believed GlobalTel was behind a rash of false emergency calls last week that threatened to overload the 911 system.

A number of people innocently called 911 after receiving anonymous messages on their pagers asking them to call a number that began with 911. Ms Webb said she believed the attack on the 911 system was in direct response to Government cutting off GlobalTel's two numbers.

Due to concerns for the emergency system, the numbers were immediately put back on. However, on Friday night, Government took the decision to withdraw the numbers again, along with a new 1 800 number utilised by GlobalTel.

As a result, during the weekend, GlobalTel customers were unable to call out on the cheap rates service. However, GlobalTel repeatedly called their customers on the Island offering them a line to call out if they wished.

Mr. Edwards said: "We are constantly monitoring what GlobalTel is doing and are trying to put a stop to the illegal callback companies.

"We pulled the numbers they were using at the weekend, so they resorted to using their database to automatically call their customers to offer them a line. People could only access the service if they were called by GlobalTel. I now understand that they have promised their customers they will be up and running in two weeks. I'm waiting to see how they are going to do it.'' Customers who use callback companies are not breaking the law, however, Mr.

Edwards said anybody found to be assisting callback companies to operate on the Island by setting up a network system could face prosecution.

Already, two people have been arrested and questioned, and charges may follow, and equipment seized that was believed to be involved in the operation of GlobalTel on the Island.

And Mr. Edwards said although only GlobalTel had been directly targeted by Government so far, it will soon be going after any other telephone companies who are operating here without a licence.

Govt. turning up heat on callback company The officer added: "We have had to start somewhere, so GlobalTel has been the first target, but we will be actively targeting any callback companies which operate without paying a licensing tariff.

"We were totally surprised at how aggressive GlobalTel have been. We are still puzzled by their resolve to maintain their presence here.

"The 911 incident completely bowled me over. There is a strong possibility it was GlobalTel, but we are investigating and building a case as we speak.

"Everyone has been co-operative and all the major players on the Island are working together on this, including the Police and the DPP.'' He said the malicious use of telecommunications services is an offence, but he was checking to see which part of the Telecommunications Act had been infringed or contravened.

And he said he was also investigating to see if any criminal act had been infringed.

Government has also contacted the Federal Communications Commission in the US, which licenses GlobalTel, to see if they can take any action against the company operating in Bermuda.

Mr. Edwards added: "To be honest, the impression we are getting at the moment is that many of GlobalTel's customers are getting very disillusioned by the way they have acted.

"Hopefully, people will decide not to use them. I would encourage people to use a company for overseas calls that is legal on the Island.'' GlobalTel has not returned any calls or e-mails to The Royal Gazette since last week.