Bell Aliant invests $4.1 million to connect Corner Brook, NL to FibreOP network

Future-proof network to reach 70,000 homes and businesses in the province

CORNER BROOK, NL, June 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is investing $4.1 million to bring its fibre-to-the home (FTTH) network to Corner Brook, Newfoundland. This expansion brings FibreOP™ services to more than 10,000 homes and businesses in the area.

"We are excited to continue our expansion in Newfoundland by bringing this technology to our customers in the Corner Brook area," said Andre LeBlanc, VP Residential Services, Bell Aliant. "Demand for bandwidth continues to grow, and more and more, our customers are looking for faster speeds on more connected devices. That's what FibreOP can offer - unprecedented speed and nearly limitless capacity."

In April 2011, Bell Aliant announced it would bring FibreOP to 60,000 homes and businesses in the St. John's area. Today's announcement brings Bell Aliant's total investment in the province to more than $26 million to expand FibreOP in Newfoundland.

"This is exciting news for our city and for the region," said Neville Greeley, Mayor of Corner Brook. "Bell Aliant's FibreOP network takes Corner Brook's capacity for innovation to a new level, and connects our city and our people to new opportunities - here at home and around the world,"

Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) is a broadband network made of glass fibre-optic cable that connects straight to a customers' home or business. FTTH dramatically increases connection speeds and data capability available to users. Bell Aliant's FibreOP network offers Internet download speeds of up to 250 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 30 Mbps - the fastest available in Atlantic Canada today. FibreOP is also the only network that offers Twitter and Facebook apps for TV - so customers can watch, surf and socialize while enjoying the best TV product in the market.

Bell Aliant was the first in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home. By the end of 2012, the company will have invested approximately half a billion dollars to extend fibre-optic technology to approximately 650,000 homes and businesses in its territory. Customers in parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador also enjoy the new product.

Corner Brook customers can pre-register for FibreOP service at www.bellaliant.net/FibreOP, or call 1-866-FIBREOP (1-866-342-7367) to be notified when service is available in their area.

About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is one of North America's largest regional communications providers and the first company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology with its FibreOP™ services. Through its operating entities, it serves customers in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and technology services including voice, data, Internet, video and value-added business solutions. Bell Aliant's employees deliver the highest quality customer service, choice and convenience.

Media contact:
Sarah Levy MacLeod
Bell Aliant 855 487-5026
sarah.levy@bellaliant.ca