Quantum Communications Ltd. has spent about $10 million building its voice and data network and wants to change the way a telephone company operates, president and chief executive officer Jim Sullivan said yesterday.

"Many of you will remember Ernestine, the telephone operator from `Laugh-In','' he told a meeting of the Rotary Club yesterday at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. "She certainly typified what most people saw as phone company attitudes -- rigid, inflexible. We've all had to try to deal with those attitudes in various places, at various times. Well Quantum may be a telephone company but we promise not to act like one.'' He said the company provides the most advanced switching technology on the Island, provides solutions to companies' problems and has maintenance people on duty at all times.

"Phone companies have departments that handle customers,'' he said.

Competition `good for Bermuda' "We prefer to see that all of our employees visit customers and talk to them on a regular basis. By staying small, we stay close. And in customer care, close is best.'' The company's fibre optic network currently is available only in Hamilton.

Quantum plans on expanding the network Island-wide once it is able to provide voice services. Currently the company can only provide data and Internet services as it has not yet been connected to Bermuda Telephone Co. Ltd. (BTC) network due to a dispute.

Telecommunications Minister E.T. (Bob) Richards has ordered BTC to connect Quantum by September 3.

Mr. Sullivan said once the connection is made the Island will garner the benefits of competition.

"So the benefits of competition that have revolutionised communications throughout the world are about to explode in Bermuda,'' he said. "It will be a wonderful explosion -- one that is guaranteed to benefit your company and Bermuda.''