ATLANTIC CANADA,Feb. 26 2004 --Aliant, Atlantic Canada's leading
communications provider today announced expansion plans for Aliant high-speed
throughout the region, investing $12.6 million in the first six months of 2004
to bring high-speed access to 40,000 more homes and 1,600 more businesses.
    "Customers have asked for more choice and with Aliant high-speed,
customers can connect with more," says Heather Tulk, Vice President, Marketing
and Broadband, Aliant. "Aliant offers a variety of enhanced services and
features to our high-speed customers so they can customize their on-line
experience. And they can do this with the knowledge that their high-speed
Internet is delivered on a reliable, state-of-the-art network over a
dedicated, unshared access connection that provides consistent speed without
tying up your phone line."
    "Our network is evidence of our commitment to connecting Atlantic
Canadians to each other and the world," continues Ms. Tulk. "By the end of
2004, close to 70 per cent of Atlantic Canadian homes and 85 per cent of
business lines will have access to Aliant's high-speed service, beginning with
our planned investment of $12.6 million in the first six months of this year."
    "Aliant continues to work with both our residential and business
customers to deliver what they need to connect, simply and easily," says Ms.
Tulk. "Our innovative, customer-focused solutions are world-class -- what our
customers want and expect from Aliant."

    Aliant high-speed has been launched in the following communities since
the beginning of 2004:

    PEI: Summerside - Slemon Park.

     NB: Bathurst - Miramichi Ave., Rothesay - Hammond River and in
         Miramichi - Nordin.
     NL: in Gander - McCurdy Drive.
     NS: in the Halifax Regional Municipality - Bay Road and Enfield; in
         Canning and Chester Basin.

    Aliant high-speed will be available in the following communities by mid-
year 2004:

    PEI: Bedeque, Borden-Carleton, Crapaud, Morell, Mount Stewart, Tyne
         Valley, areas of Charlottetown, Stratford and Summerside.

     NB: Devon - Currie Mountain, Lower Lincoln in Fredericton, Fox Creek in
         Moncton, Meehans Cove in Rothesay, areas of Oromocto, Edmundston
         and South Bay in Saint John.

     NL: Bell Island, Flower's Cove, Spruce Court in Gander, Portugal Cove,
         Upper Island Cove, areas of Bay Roberts and St. John's, Gambo, and
         Long Pond.

     NS: Florence, Louisbourg, Port Hawkesbury, Bridgewater, Meteghan,
         Western Shore, Port Williams, Yarmouth, areas of New Glasgow, areas
         of Truro, areas of Sydney, areas of Halifax Regional Municipality
         (Bay Road, Bedford, Blandford, Ketch Harbour, Prospect, Rockingham,
         Sackville, Spryfield, St. Margarets Bay, Waverley, Woodlawn,
         Highfield Park, areas of Eastern Passage and Cow Bay).

    About Aliant

    From its home base in Atlantic Canada, Aliant delivers a wide variety of
innovative and traditional communications services, including local and long-
distance telephony, wireless, Internet, e-commerce, interactive multimedia,
data and managed network services, to more than two million consumers and over
80,000 enterprises. Aliant complements its industry-leading telecommunications
business with strengths in information technology solutions and knowledge-
services applications. The company's 9,000 employees build on Aliant's
100-plus year history by collaborating to deliver the highest quality of
customer service, choice and convenience. Aliant is a TSX 100 company with a
market capitalization of more than $4 billion. More information about Aliant
(TSX:AIT) may be found by visiting www.aliant.ca.




For further information: please contact: Lynn Coveyduck, Aliant
Communications and Public Affairs, 1 (866) 487-5653,
lynn.coveyduck@aliant.ca