Local company, iTech, is looking to harness satellite technology in a bid to move in to the Island's internet market.

The company, whose primary shareholders are businessman Wendall Brown and Telecommunications professional Greg Woods, was launched last year and has had a temporary (Internet) licence since December 2000.

At a November 20 Telecommunications hearing, iTech made application for a Class C (Internet) licence.

Mr. Brown - whose other business interests include ownership of the Bermuda General Agency (BGA); the parent of the Phoenix group of pharmacies, Triple Crown Racing and shareholder in Cassia Tobacco Company - and Mr. Woods are iTech's president and vice-president, respectively.

If successful in its bid to become an internet service provider (ISP) the company, would join the Island's existing providers Cable & Wireless and TeleBermuda International, who are limited to the corporate market and Logic and NorthRock who provide both corporate and residential internet access.

iTech reported its target market would be international business, local business, government, education institutions and "high-end" residential.

The company proposes to use the technology of Virginia-based company iDirect, which uses a satellite dish to provide internet access.

In its Telecommunications application, iTech said the installation - which would be at the client site - would consist of mounting a 1.8 metre VSAT dish and running a coaxial cable to a modem, which is then integrated with the local area network (LAN) through a standard Ethernet connection.

The company reported that the satellite dish can be mounted in one of three ways: either by ground, wall or as a nonpenetrating roof mount.

The mounted satellite is said to be able to withstand winds up to a speed of 125 miles per hour.

The technology, which the company, in its Telecommunications application, said could be installed at a price of $2,500, would provide customers with a direct connection to the US internet backbone, "thus eliminating multiple hops through routers or public network congestion," iTech reported.

The company projected its first year operating expenses as in the region of $319,000, with $18,000 budgeted for office space, and $12,000 budgeted for entertainment.

Although the Telecommunications Ministry has not yet announced whether or not it will approve the application for a class C licence, iTech looks ready to move quickly.

In its application it states its plan to introduce a T1/E1 digital interface in the first quarter of 2002.

This technology would allow for video, voice and fax capability. The company also stated its intention to have 35 subscribers up and running in the first year.

Meanwhile, a second local company, Fort Knox, has also made application to the Telecommunications Ministry for a class C licence for Internet.

And Fort Knox, like iTech plans to - if granted a Class C licence - deploy internet through iDirect's satellite technology.

Operations Officer Allison Thomas said Fort Knox had "no qualms" on using the same technology as iTech.

"It is an open market; it is all about competition," he said, adding that the fact that another company is looking at the same technology, validates their decision to go that route.

But Fort Knox would mount the VSAT satellite on its St. David's building, and "dynamically manage" internet traffic through a bandwidth switch.

Fort Knox Chief Executive Officer Troy Symonds told The Royal Gazette last month, the company is initially looking at providing Internet for its clients, but if they see a business opportunity they could look at offering Internet access on a larger scale.

"The key issue for us is that we have to negotiate access rates for our customers. With a Class C licence (for Internet) we would be able to negotiate with the provider for capacity. And it would enable us to have our own IP address."

Mr. Symonds said their application was to offer internet to businesses, but they are not ruling out residential.

The Royal Gazette left messages for both Mr. Brown and Mr. Woods seeking further comment but calls had not been returned by press time.