The Bermuda Telephone Company - which has long held the monopoly for local telephone service - is being given a run for its money by North Rock Communications.

North Rock, best known as an Internet service provider (ISP) and long-distance telephone carrier, has jumped into the local telephone service arena with its announcement yesterday that it was ready to immediately "introduce competition to the Island's local telephone market for the first time ever".

North Rock's entry into what has, until now, been a closed market came with the blessing of the Telecommunications, Tourism and E-Commerce Ministry which granted its license.

At a press conference yesterday to unveil the new service, the Ministry heralded the introduction of competition into the market.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Renee Webb, Ministry director Greg Swan said he was pleased that North Rock was now up and running with the service, which operates on a fixed wireless system.

"We promote competition in every part of the telecommunications sector and this is clearly a milestone," Mr. Swan said.

North Rock General Manager Tom Coelho confirmed that the development meant North Rock was going head-to-head with BTC, adding that a telephone service for business customers would also be launched in the near future.

However, North Rock's fixed wireless system - which can simultaneously carry telephone service and High Speed Broadband access to the Internet - is only available to properties able to receive a signal from one of the company's towers.

North Rock marketing manager Vicki Coehlo said that there would be some homes that would not be able to get the service but added that it would not be an issue for most of the Island - with about 80 percent of homes able to receive the North Rock service.

When contacted for its reaction to North Rock's announcement, BTC spokesperson Ona Fletcher told The Royal Gazette. "BTC is supportive of fair competition in the local access arena as well as in all other areas of the telecommunications industry in Bermuda."