North Rock Communications

In the last week of July, users of Bermuda's second-largest Internet services provider (ISP), North Rock, had all their outgoing e-mails delivered to the trash, instead of the intended recipients. The senders were not told this had happened until a local newspaper forced North Rock's hand. They had not been told on the “many” previous occasions that their e-mails had been lost.

The internet has proved to be enormously popular in Bermuda, with the island recording one of the highest take-up rates in the world. One reason for that is the large number of international companies we have. With the internet a standard feature on the modern office desk, people here quickly became used to the idea and extended their connectivity to their homes. Another reason is that we are 800 miles from anywhere. Any kind of connection to the world is welcome. With the Atlantic Ocean between the 60,000 of us and anyone else, we are desperate for contact. For instance, we gladly pay more than $100 a month for intermittent cable television.