Bell Aliant launches FibreOP 2.0 - the next generation in FibreOP™ services

Apr 13, 2011

Introduces fastest combined upload-download package and new best-in-market TV product

Saint John, NB, April 13 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant Inc. (Bell Aliant) (TSX: BA) launched FibreOP 2.0 today in Saint John, New Brunswick, taking its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network to the next level with the fastest combined upload-download package of any major service provider in Canada and a new, best-in-market TV product.

FibreOP 2.0 is the next generation of Bell Aliant FibreOP services, building on a network that delivers the fastest Internet and video sharing and the ultimate high definition TV experience over the only 100 per cent fibre-optic network that connects straight to a customer's home.

"We've taken a great product and made it even better," said Karen Sheriff, President and CEO, Bell Aliant. "FibreOP 2.0 provides advantages for our customers that they can't get anywhere else - and for the same price as the original FibreOP product. Customers will be able to experience Internet and TV to their full potential, whether it's for a school project, working from home, or pure entertainment."

FibreOP 2.0 introduces more speed and functionality to customers for the same price. With FibreOP 2.0, customers will see Internet speeds increase and have the ability to upload as fast as they download - a first in Canada for any major service provider. For example, Bell Aliant's most popular FibreOP Internet product moves from 25 Mbps down/ 5 Mbps up to 30 Mbps down/30 Mbps up so a customer can upload as fast as they download. This is in addition to FibreOP Internet's existing range of choices in speeds, including the fastest Internet download and upload speeds available - Bell Aliant's 170 Mbps download/30 Mbps upload service. These speeds enable customers to not only download music or movies and share video or photos faster than ever before, but also accommodate the growing need for multiple users within the home.

FibreOP 2.0 also provides enhanced functions and features for TV. This includes the Best Whole Home PVR, where one PVR powers the whole house. Customers can start watching a recording in one room and finish in another, including the capacity to record up to four shows at the same time. Customers can control their PVR from any location in the home. The new TV product also includes Best Whole Home HD, the Ultimate Video-on-Demand, and the Next Generation Interactive Guide, with easy-to-use features like picture-in-picture browsing and advanced search capability.

FibreOP 2.0 is available immediately to residents in the existing FibreOP markets of Saint John, Fredericton, Moncton, and Sydney. Bathurst, Charlottetown and Halifax will launch with all FibreOP services, including FibreOP 2.0, with rollouts continuing in these areas. Customers in Truro, Summerside, and St. John's will have access to FibreOP 2.0 soon as the fibre-to-the-home builds are underway in these cities.

All existing FibreOP customers have been upgraded to the new FibreOP 2.0 Internet product starting today with no additional fees or need for an equipment upgrade. Bell Aliant will also upgrade all existing Bell Aliant TV customers and FibreOP TV customers to the new TV product over the coming months, again at no extra cost to the customer, no change to existing equipment and no home visit.

"We are investing significantly in fibre-to-the-home because this network is future-proof and enables us to make great enhancements for our customers, like FibreOP 2.0," said Ms. Sheriff. "FibreOP is not only flexible enough to meet the communications demands of the consumer today, but ready for whatever the future holds - like the new software upgrades and functionality improvements we are seeing today. FibreOP has been a game changer for Bell Aliant, and the game just got a whole lot more exciting with the introduction of FibreOP 2.0."

Bell Aliant was the first company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home, and the company will have invested almost half a billion dollars to extend FTTH to over 600,000 homes and businesses in the areas we serve by the end of 2012.

Bell Aliant has been recognized as the best in all of North America for innovation and leadership in FTTH deployment with the FTTXcellence Award, presented at the 2010 FTTH Conference in Las Vegas.

Customers can find out more about FibreOP services by visiting www.bellaliant.net/fibreop or calling 1-866-FIBREOP (1-866-342-7367).

About Bell Aliant

Bell Aliant 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 of customer service, choice and convenience.