Extended Area network build team finalized;
                   construction accelerates province-wide

CALGARY,Oct. 27 2003 --Bell West Inc. has finalized its contractor team
for completing the build of Alberta SuperNet's Extended Area network.
    Bell, prime contractor for Alberta SuperNet, has hired 27 contractors
across the province. The contractors were selected through open, competitive
bid processes.
    "Finalizing our Extended Area network build team is a major milestone
toward completing construction of Alberta SuperNet," said Brian Olafson,
Vice-President, SuperNet Project. "Bell and its construction contractors are
engaged and mobilized and construction activity is accelerating throughout the
province."
    The Extended Area is the 11,000-kilometre portion of Alberta SuperNet
connecting 395 smaller communities and in which the Government of Alberta is
investing $193 million to build.
    Bell's contractors are completing critical activities in and around
Alberta SuperNet communities to ready the network for operation. Key
activities include building:

    -   307 network point-of-presence facilities;
    -   network access connections to 1,777 libraries, schools, hospitals and
        provincial and municipal government offices in 402 communities;
    -   3,728 kilometres of fibre-optic cable between Extended Area
        communities.

    In total, Bell's contractors have more than 730 individuals working on
the Extended Area build. More than 200,000 project hours have been spent on
Extended Area construction so far this year.
    To view Bell's Extended Area competitive bids, visit
www.bellwesternbusiness.ca/tenders/bell_public_tenders.htm.

    About Alberta SuperNet
    ----------------------
    Alberta SuperNet is a Government of Alberta initiative to build a
broadband network linking 4,700 libraries, schools, hospitals and provincial
government offices in 422 communities province-wide in 2004. In addition,
commercial service providers in areas which currently do not have high-speed
connectivity options will be able to access Alberta SuperNet at current market
rates, bringing competitive broadband services to most Alberta businesses and
residences, whether they are in rural or urban areas.
    The Government of Alberta is investing a maximum of $193 million over
three years to build the sustainable and scaleable network. As prime
contractor, Bell West is building the Extended Area, which connects 395
smaller communities, and investing a minimum of $102 million to build the Base
Area, linking Alberta's 27 largest communities. Axia SuperNet Ltd., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Axia NetMedia Corp. (TSE: AXX), has a 10-year renewable
contract from the Government of Alberta to operate and manage access to the
Alberta SuperNet. For more information about the Alberta SuperNet see
www.albertasupernet.ca.
    Alberta SuperNet is just one of thousands of initiatives supported
through the Alberta Lottery Fund. The Alberta Lottery Fund is made up of the
government's share of net revenues from VLTs, slot machines, and ticket
lotteries. These revenues total more than $1 billion each year, and are used
to support volunteer, public and community-based initiatives across the
province.

    About Bell West
    ---------------
    Bell West delivers a suite of advanced fibre-based data and IP services,
as well as a full spectrum of local and long distance voice services to
Western businesses. Jointly owned by Bell Canada (60%) and Manitoba Telecom
Services (40%), the company has offices in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
For more information visit www.bellwesternbusiness.ca.




For further information: Jamie McNaul, Bell West Corporate
Communications, (403) 410-8106 or 1-866-235-5462