Sympatico(TM) High Speed Unplugged offers customers simple, reliable and
    portable Internet access

    ATLANTIC CANADA,March 31 2006 --- 
Aliant, Atlantic Canada's leading
information and communications technology provider, today announced the
availability of Sympatico(TM) High Speed Unplugged, a new service which
delivers a simple and portable way for Atlantic Canadian customers to get
online. The service is part of a national wireless broadband network - the
Inukshuk network - which offers wireless Internet access at speeds of up to
three megabits per second (Mbps).
    Sympatico High Speed Unplugged uses a small, portable wireless modem
which connects to a customer's computer. The modem, in turn, connects
wirelessly to the Inukshuk network using Aliant cellular towers in the region -
providing Internet connectivity. The service is an integral part of Aliant's
continued investment in its broadband and wireless networks, and related
services, in the region.
    "This service is part of Aliant's commitment to be our customers' first
choice for all their information, communications and entertainment needs and
helps make this region one of the most connected in Canada," said Joe Mosher,
Director, ISP, Aliant. "Sympatico High Speed Unplugged is a reliable broadband
service offering our consumers' the convenience and flexibility of Internet
access at home, at work and places in between," says Mosher.

    Sympatico High Speed Unplugged is available today within the following
locations:

        -  St. John's, NL
        -  Fredericton, NB
        -  Halifax, NS
        -  Charlottetown, PEI

    Customers have a choice of two introductory offers for the new service:

        -  up to 512 Kbps for $45/month(*)
        -  up to 3 Mbps for $60/month(*)

        (*)The service requires a portable wireless modem now available for
        $99 with a 24-month contract.

    Sympatico High Speed Unplugged relies on Inukshuk Wireless Inc., a joint
venture between Bell Canada and Rogers Communications to build and manage a
Canada-wide wireless broadband network. The arrangement, which also includes
Bell West, Northwestel and Aliant, allows the companies to minimize costs and
maximize wireless broadband network coverage by pooling their spectrum
holdings and leveraging the companies' existing wireless tower and network
transport infrastructures. Inukshuk's network footprint will cover over 45
cities and approximately 100 unserved rural and remote communities across
Canada by the end of 2008.
    For more information on Sympatico High Speed Unplugged, please visit
http://www.aliant.net (select Internet option).

    (C) Sympatico(TM) High Speed Unplugged, Sympatico is a trade-mark of Bell
Canada.

    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. In addition to serving residential, small-to-medium sized
business and enterprise customers in its home market, Aliant also serves
business customers located in other parts of North America. 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.

    (*)On March 7, 2006, Aliant and BCE Inc. announced the creation of one of
the largest regional telecommunications service providers in North America.
The organizations will combine Bell Canada's wireline operations in its
regional territories in Ontario and Quebec with Aliant's wireline operations
and Bell's 63.4 per cent interest in the Bell Nordiq Income Fund to form a new
income trust. The trust, which will have 3.4 million local access lines and
over 400,000 high-speed Internet subscribers in the Atlantic Provinces,
Ontario and Quebec, will be headquartered in Atlantic Canada. As part of the
transaction, Bell will acquire Aliant Mobility and Aliant's DownEast
Communications retail outlets. The transaction, which is expected to be
completed as early as the third quarter of 2006, is subject to several closing
conditions, including certain shareholder, court and regulatory approvals. For
more information please visit http://www.aliant.ca.

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For further information: contact: Peter Murchland, Aliant Communications
and Public Affairs, (902) 487-3165 or (902) 499-5837;
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