-- Stratos Wins Navy SPAWAR Contract

ST. JOHN'S, NF,Dec. 19 2001 --Aliant Inc. (TSE:AIT) today welcomed the
news that its remote communications business has been strengthened through
Stratos' award of a competitive contract with the United States Navy's Space
and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to provide global, full duplex,
leased satellite bandwidth for use with the Inmarsat B systems aboard U.S.
Navy ships. This contract includes a maximum quantity of 63 months of service
and the estimated value over the five-year period is US $137 million.
    "This contract win is a significant one for our remote communications
subsidiary Stratos," said Aliant President and CEO Stephen Wetmore. "It
validates Stratos' global Inmarsat broadband solution suite, and offers strong
evidence that our 61% investment in this global communications leader is
providing important growth opportunities as we apply our diversification
strategy and expand into new markets."
    Mr. Wetmore continued, "Stratos lends considerable value to Aliant
through its proven product suite for marine communications, such as the
solutions that will be used by SPAWAR. Today's announcement, combined with
Stratos' recent news of its work with the BBC to bring live satellite images
from Afghanistan, demonstrates well their scope of expertise. We are excited
about the growth this SPAWAR contract brings to Stratos, and are looking
forward to applying their experience as we focus on delivering integrated, end-
to-end solutions to new sectors that increasingly need flexible and reliable
mobile and remote communications services."

    About Stratos
    Stratos (www.stratos.ca) is a publicly traded (TSE:SGB)
international
telecommunication services provider offering customers operating in remote
locations a variety of wireless, IP, data, and voice solutions through a range
of newly emerging and established technologies such as Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Iridium, VSAT and others. Stratos serves an array of diverse markets including
government, military, aeronautical, industrial, recreational and maritime
users anywhere in the world.
    More details about Stratos' contract award can be found in the newsroom
of Stratos' website at www.stratos.ca

    About Aliant
    Aliant Inc. is one of Canada's top high-tech companies, providing
integrated communications and IT solutions through subsidiaries operating
worldwide. By combining industry-leading expertise from across the group of
companies, Aliant utilizes the Aliant Premium(TM) model to deliver unique, end-
to-end solutions to customers. With 10,000 employees and a market
capitalization of almost $5 billion, Aliant ranks in the top 100 publicly
traded companies in the country.
    To learn more about Aliant and its operating companies, visit
www.aliant.ca.





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For further information: Aliant media inquiries: Robyn Tingley,
Communications & Public Affairs, Aliant Inc., (506) 694-6445,
robyn.tingley@aliant.ca