E-Bermuda: Get Wired

Bermudians have connections! Known as the "wired islands," 90 percent of households have at least one computer and 84 percent have Internet access. In the wireless realm, 94 percent of households own a cell phone and 32 percent have BlackBerries or similar devices. Three reasons are obvious for all this technophilia: Bermuda sits more than 750 miles from any other landmass, its highly educated residents are natural early adopters, and the islands' thriving business community makes computers second nature.

Bermuda's endeavours focus more on brainpower than on brawn. A decade ago, the government was quick to recognise the potential benefits of the Information Age, passing some of the first major legislation devoted to e-commerce. A senior leader and member of the cabinet, the Hon. Terry E. Lister JP MP now runs the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce.

Cable & Wireless began international telecommunications here in 1890, when its first submarine cable was laid from Nova Scotia. Today the global giant also runs digital fibre-optic and satellite systems. In Europe, its IP backbone is tier 1. In the United States, C&W's network reaches over 300 metropolitan areas. Worldwide, its data centres host high-traffic websites.

A relative upstart, the innovative, fast-growing North Rock Communications opened in December 1997. Today it serves up Internet, wireless, local telephone, long-distance and increasingly, collocation services, which protect data from accidents, floods and such.

One critical area for these mid-Atlantic islands is business continuity and disaster recovery. Even amidst the constantly evolving universe of information technology, the importance of basic data security and the ability to recover seamlessly from a crisis is always front and centre. Today no issue receives more attention from the business community.

In data security, Bermuda has a definite edge, and both public and private sectors are ahead of the curve. QuoVadis, a Bermuda company now branching out worldwide, has established verification programmes that are becoming global standards. Several companies operate secure backup facilities designed to withstand the worst events.

Bermuda is ideal for e-business due to:

• Regulation. Fair, reasonable business regulations meet international standards.
• Professional support. Bermuda's banking, trust, accounting, custodial and legal services conform to high standards. Strong tech support already serves online publishers, web designers, software and hardware vendors, developers, Internet service providers, and cellular phone operators.
• Infrastructure. Excellent telecommunications networks connect the islands to the world via diverse routes through satellite links and fibre-optic cables. High-quality hosting, maximum security, full redundancy and a spectrum of options are available.
• Location. Poised one hour ahead of New York City and four hours behind London, Bermuda makes an excellent location from which to operate an international business. Flights go to most centres, and the subtropical paradise is highly appealing.
• Political stability. Bermuda is politically, economically and socially stable, and it strenuously safeguards its reputation.
• Taxes. No income tax, withholding tax, capital-gains tax, capital-transfer tax, estate duty or inheritance tax apply.

In 2008, readiness rankings, prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit in co-operation with the IBM Institute for Business Value, Bermuda placed 17th worldwide — ahead of Japan, France and many other larger countries.

In 2006, Bermuda was accepted into the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, a consortium of almost 60 information industry associations. In November 2009, Bermuda hosts the group's biennial Global Public Policy Conference, organised by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Business Technology Division in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce. More than 500 senior executives, officials and policymakers from around the world meet to focus on global policies affecting information technology.

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