To enable ATLAS to offer the service the company has got together with ipass, a major player in the international global virtual network providing people with secure, low-cost access to their corporate networks and Internet from virtually anywhere on the globe. Currently ipass serves 150 countries with around 8000 points of presence (POP).

Users can connect to the Seychelles from almost anywhere in the world. With a point-and-click interface, users can input the country they are calling from thus allowing ipass to link the user to the most convenient ISP to the user's location. In addition, iPass will provide secure authentication to protect user names and passwords. Those customers using the service outside of the Seychelles will be charged by ipass through their usual ISPs.

Systems Manager of ATLAS Muditha Gunatilake informed the Seychelles Nation News Online Service yesterday that the cost of the service will depend upon a combination of the length of time the service is used and the area where the user was calling from. For example, Internet use in the US will generally be cheaper than in Africa. 'Other than these,' said Mr Gunatilake, 'you just need to pay the cost of a local call in the country you're in.'

The tariffs are yet to be announced but Mr Gunatilake confirmed that the service would be less expensive than calling long-distance from overseas to connect to ATLAS's server in the Seychelles.