early in the day could give some businesses a competitive edge.

And already more than a dozen reinsurance companies, financial institutions and investment companies keen to stay in touch with global markets have signed up for local courier company IBC's Newsflite service.

It is the result of a request from Bermuda-based reinsurer XL Capital for access to international papers earlier in the day.

Newsflite will see busy executives receive any of four major overseas newspapers at their desks between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m. Monday to Friday -- the earliest day-of-publication delivery time offered by a local company.

And IBC president and CEO Glen Smith said yesterday the company aimed to eventually be able to deliver overseas newspapers to Bermuda residents as early as 9 or 10 a.m. as well as offering a wider selection of papers.

He said the company could now offer the service because it had a dedicated plane which touched down in Bermuda daily at 11.15 a.m.

The four newspapers available to start with are the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the New York Times.

Mr. Smith said IBC recognised the need in the ultra-competitive international business sector to receive newspapers from overseas as early as possible rather than near the end of the working day.

"We looked into it, did the research and found we could do it, but it would be at a slightly higher price,'' he said.

"IBC sends a sprinter to meet our plane at 11.30 a.m., pull the bag of overseas newspapers off, clear Customs and deliver them straight to our offices in Hamilton where they are sorted and sent on sprint runs.''