MONTREAL,Dec. 10 2002 --Bell Canada today announced Bell
AccessZone(R), a Wi-Fi hotspot pilot that will provide Canadians with wireless
high-speed access to the Internet (Wi-Fi is short for Wireless Fidelity and is
the most popular worldwide term for high-speed wireless local area networks in
offices, homes and public spaces). During the pilot, Bell will convert a
number of high traffic payphones and other locations in Montreal and Toronto
into wireless Internet access points. This gives mobile professionals,
business travelers and consumers with 802.11b enabled laptops or wireless
handheld devices another convenient option to wirelessly access the Internet,
e-mail and corporate networks in convenient public locations.
    "Bell AccessZone further demonstrates Bell Canada's commitment to meeting
the evolving needs of mobile professionals and business travelers who are
becoming increasingly reliant on wireless technologies for high-speed Internet
access while away from home or the office," said Guy Marier, President, Bell
Québec. "The AccessZone pilot builds on Bell's Internet and wireless expertise
and extensive payphone infrastructure. Our partnerships with the hotspot pilot
location providers and with industry leaders such as Intel and Cisco Systems
will ensure that Canadians gain another convenient way to wirelessly access
high-speed Internet service."
    During the Bell AccessZone Wi-Fi pilot, users with 802.11b enabled
devices will be able to gain free access to Bell's hotspot service in the
following high traffic locations: the domestic departure area at Montreal's
Dorval International Airport; Via Rail Panorama Lounge in Montreal's Central
Station and Toronto's Union Station; and Kingston's Confederation Park and
Marina, in collaboration with the Kingston Economic Development Corporation.
AccessZone is also available in the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges at
Montreal's Dorval International Airport, Pearson International Airport
(Terminal 2) and the Calgary International Airport. Other pilot locations will
be introduced over the pilot period, which is expected to run until the Spring
of 2003. In addition to providing a helpful and flexible service to
individuals on the go, AccessZone is also a value-added service for businesses
such as hotels, office building reception areas, commuter lounges, cafés and
convention centres. Lobbies, seating or common areas can easily be turned into
Bell AccessZones.
    Normand Boivin, Vice President, Airport Operations, said he was pleased
to welcome this new service at Montréal's Dorval International Airport, "and
thus make Dorval's clients and partners among the first to benefit from this
innovative Bell communication service."
    "Air Canada feels that Bell AccessZone Wi-Fi hotspot services will become
an extension of the enterprise and home network by providing high-speed
wireless connectivity to travelers where they would otherwise be out of
touch," said Pierre Bourbonnière, Manager, Airport Products Design and
Strategy, Marketing, Air Canada. "By partnering with Bell we are helping
mobile professionals and business travelers using 802.11b enabled computing
devices do business where they want and access information when they need it."
    According to Bell, sporting facilities, universities, libraries and
municipalities have also expressed an interest in AccessZone. Based on the
success of the Bell AccessZone pilot, Bell plans to work with other enterprise
customers across Canada to build a large AccessZone footprint where customers
can gain wireless Internet access in a number of convenient Wi-Fi hotspot
locations.
    According to industry research, billions of dollars in research and
development and manufacturing capacity are now directed at developing 802.11b
products. A November 2001 study conducted by "Analysys", a U.S. research
company, suggests that 21 million people will use public Wi-Fi access by 2007,
via 41,000 hotspots, generating US$3 billion dollars in revenue. Research
conducted in 2002 by "Alexander Resources" states that the largest portion of
worldwide service revenues, reaching US$9.5 billion by 2007, will be generated
from WLAN systems deployed in public areas.
    "Intel's involvement with Bell AccessZone initiative is due in large part
to the steady growth in demand we're witnessing from Canadian enterprises and
consumers for 802.11b enabled devices, including laptops based on our upcoming
Banias technology," said Doug Cooper, Country Manager, Intel Canada. "More and
more businesses are requesting 802.11b enabled laptops because they are
deploying WLAN within their own organizations. This growth in corporate users
creates a readily available market for public hotspot providers to tap into."
    Each Bell AccessZone hotspot communicates with an 802.11b enabled device
over a wireless LAN, enabling users to make a high speed DSL connection to the
Internet without the need for a physical landline connection. As long as a
user is within a 50 to 200 metre radius of an AccessZone Wi-Fi hotspot, they
can take advantage of Bell's public wireless broadband network services. Bell
will finalize its competitive pricing structure based on the results of the
pilot and other factors. The service is currently being offered free of charge
with no time restrictions. AccessZone is a secure service when used with a
virtual private network (VPN) client and a firewall. AccessZone will not
provide additional security for end-users during the pilot, however security
software can be installed onto equipment to help prevent security issues.

    For more information on Bell AccessZone and pilot locations, please visit
www.bell.ca/accesszone .

    ABOUT BELL CANADA
    Bell Canada, Canada's national leader for communications in the Internet
world, provides connectivity to residential and business customers through
wired and wireless voice and data communications, high speed and wireless
Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions, local and long
distance phone and directory services. Bell Canada is owned by BCE Inc. of
Montreal. For more information please visit http://www.bell.ca




-30-


For further information: Marie-Claude Bacon, Media Relations, Bell
Canada, (514) 391-2007, 1 877 391-2007, marie-claude.bacon@bell.ca