ATLANTIC CANADA,Dec. 16 2005 --- Aliant Inc. (TSX: AIT) today announced
that it will defer by four days the payment of the previously announced
quarterly common share dividend of $0.295 per common share until
January 3, 2006. Aliant's Board of Directors decided to make this change, from
the previously announced payment date of December 30, 2005, so that
shareholders may benefit from the recent federal government announcement of
its intention to enhance the tax credit and dividend gross-up regime under the
Income Tax Act for dividends paid after January 1, 2006.
    Shareholders should note that the potential tax reduction is subject to
approval by Parliament, and further that the positions of the provincial
governments have not been disclosed with respect to the dividend tax
reduction. The four-day delay will apply to Aliant's common share dividend
reinvestment plan reinvestment date as well. Dividends payable on December 31,
2005 on Aliant's Series 2 Preferred Shares are not impacted by this decision.

    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. Aliant's approximately 8,400 employees build on its
100-plus year history by collaborating to deliver the highest quality of
customer service, choice and convenience. Aliant has a market capitalization
of approximately $3.7 billion.
    %SEDAR: 00012285E



For further information: Media Relations: Kelly Gallant, (902) 487-4642,
kelly.gallant@aliant.ca; Investor Relations: Ian
Chadsey, (506) 694-2220,
ian.chadsey@aliant.ca;
Archived images on this organization are searchable through CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to
accredited members of
the media.