Quantum Communications Ltd. has jumped into the local business market offering Hamilton customers five cents savings per call and $7 savings per line.

The company has been waiting to offer voice services in the Hamilton market to go head to head with the Bermuda Telephone Co. Ltd. (BTC). The company, which has only been offered data transmission since February last year, was unable to offer voice service due to the lack of an interconnection with BTC's network.

The interconnection was finally made last week after months of acrimony between Quantum, BTC and the Minister of Telecommunications.

Quantum today released business rates of 10 cents per local call up to 60 minutes, or any portion of 60 minutes. After the initial first hour, the caller will pay six cents a minute for the remainder of the calls.

Business access lines will cost $25 a month.

"This rate structure takes into consideration the average length of business calls and calling patterns on the island,'' Quantum president and chief executive officer Jim Sullivan said. "These rates will offer our customers a significant saving on their local telephone bill.'' Mr. Sullivan said the rates were determined after Quantum was able to confirm that it was required to pay BTC a "significant settlement rate'' for all calls connecting to the BTC network from Quantum.

BTC had initially refused to make the interconnection, and after months of delays former Telecommunications Minister E.T. (Bob) Richards ordered BTC to connect Quantum to its network by September 3. However BTC appealed that order and took the case to Supreme Court.

A BTC request for a stay against the ministerial order was rejected by a Supreme Court judge. A week long case over the issue was heard in the Supreme Court last month but as of yet no decision has been made public.

Quantum's telephone numbers will begin with a "4'' or a "6''. For example, Quantum's telephone number is 400-4000. Quantum said it currently has customers in all the 35 buildings in Hamilton connected to the network.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTER -- Renee Webb