Telecommunications Minister Terry Lister has reaffirmed Government's commitment to sweeping licensing reform allowing companies to offer services across the board rather than be restricted to specific areas.

Currently companies must get separate licences for international services, Internet and cable but Mr. Lister said soon the market would be opened up.

And he said Government would soon remove itself from handling disputes with the creation of an independent regulator.

Mr. Lister told The Royal Gazette: "The whole industry is waiting on us to move to regulatory reform.

"People will be issued licences to operate in the telecommunications business — end of conversation.

"Any part of the industry they want to be in, that's what they will be in. They can chose not to be in a certain area but their licence will allow them to go into every area. That's the type of thing that's coming down the road.

"Right now each player has certain things he can do and can't do. That's going to fall off the table."

Some have argued a free-for-all would hurt smaller players but Mr. Lister said: "I don't think that fear is overplayed but because regulatory reform is ongoing those players who were concerned about where they stand today and may stand tomorrow have the opportunity today to make changes in how they operate and in their structure.

"If this were to fall on people out of nowwhere I would expect them to be very annoyed and very litigious but the process is ongoing and all of the players are fully aware of what's going to happen."

But they will have to move quickly. A timeline is being worked out said Mr. Lister who added: "I want to ensure it's as tight as possible," He added that a speedy decision would help reduce the uncertainty.

It could mean more industry consolidation, believes Mr. Lister, who said further reforms were planned with Government stepping out of brokering disputes in the telecoms industry.

"We will be moving away from that to an independent regulatory body such as the Bermuda Monetary Authority is for the financial sector.

"We will move to something along those lines to allow us to also consider the degree to which we want to open up the industry. That is going to be a big challenge to decide how we do that."

Bermuda is still tussling with the Isle of Man over satellite space in a dispute being handled by Britain.

When settled, it could mean Bermuda can earn a large amount of revenue from licensing someone to put up a satellite able to beam TV at the eastern seaboard.

"It has potential for great revenues for the Government," Mr. Lister said. "We have viable companies that have spoken to the Ministry who are interested in moving forward with this once we can sort out the footprint issue with the UK.

"It could be incredible to be honest. It could have a significant impact on our revenue generation as a Government which hopefully, if it came to pass, would mean a shifting in how we tax people."

Both islands have been claiming victory in the dispute but a definitive decision has yet to be made by UK regulator OFCOM which is independent of the UK Government meaning Bermuda cannot lever the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to sort it out.

There is no indication of when a decision will be made said Mr. Lister who added that the location given to the Isle of Man's potential orbit was too close to Bermuda's for the two to coexist.

"What those in authority were thinking at the time is beyond me. That is where the struggle is."