Government yesterday ordered Bermuda Digital Communications/Cellular One to cease offering its customers a new service called The Bull.

The cellular phone company only launched The Bull, a service that provides access to the Internet, in conjunction with The Yak, wireless telephone service, last week.

However, its widespread advertising campaign for ?Wireless Data Access? prompted numerous Class C licensees ? Internet Service Providers ? to complain to the Ministry of Telecommunications and E-Commerce on the basis that the company was acting outside its licence.

Yesterday morning, Director of Telecommunications William Francis sent a letter to all Class C licensees to address their complaints that Cellular One?s offering of services including ?Internet Access? is ?allegedly in contravention of its Class ?B? Licence.?

ISP?s hold Class C licences while Cellular One holds a Class B, which designates it as a provider of cell phone services and data services.

Mr Francis noted in his letter that the Department would continue to ?support and maintain the integrity of the Public Telecommunications Service Licensing structure as mandated by the Position paper on Competition?.

He said: ?The Ministry has spoken with BDC about this complaint. Particularly and having regard to the offering of Internet access to the public as outlined in the advertisement, the Ministry notwithstanding the term (Internet Access) used, has articulated its position on the legality of this service.

?Based upon our interpretation of the service being offered, the offer of Internet Service by BDC is not permitted and thus, they have been directed to discontinue this type of service.?

Last night the company was still promoting The Bull on its Internet site and a spokesman did not respond to a direct query as to whether they were continuing to offer the service to customers.

In an emailed statement, a spokesman would only say: ?We acknowledge receipt of the letter from the Minister.

?At the moment we are seeking advice from our legal team and as such will not be making comment in the Press right now.

?When we are more fully advised we would be glad to expand on this statement.?