Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb that it improve service or face fines.

The Bermuda Telephone Company (BTC) responded to Ms Webb's hard line saying that it "supports competition, welcomes it and is looking forward to participating in the competitive telecommunications arena''.

But it stopped short of revealing how it plans to better service local residents and businesses that have a growing list of complaints against it.

In a release from the company yesterday afternoon, the vice president of marketing and technology, Allan Sloan, explained that the effect of weather on the company's copper cable lines together with the low capacity of the cable wiring has caused many of the problems Islanders face with the various services.

"Some of the pressing issues facing BTC include the fact that the Island was originally provisioned for one-and-a-half lines per household,'' he said in the prepared statement.

"Now the demand is for multi-family dwellings for voice, Internet and fax.

There are also many more Bermudian residents who are working from home and require more lines for business.'' Mr. Sloan said that BTC is trying to accommodate the demand but pointed out "there are obstacles to overcome.. such as, the effect of Bermuda's climate on copper cable lines''.

Ms Webb announced during debate on the Ministry of Telecommunications, that her department was working closely with BTC in an effort to get the service improved and Mr. Sloan said that the commission working on the problem "is aware of all the concerns facing BTC and the company's commitment to overcoming each challenge, one step at a time''.