Bell Aliant expands FibreOP™ technology to Greater Sudbury, Ontario

Feb 6, 2012

100% fibre optic network will deliver ultimate broadband experience

GREATER SUDBURY, ON, Feb. 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant is bringing its world-class fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network to Greater Sudbury, Ontario, investing $30 million to bring FibreOP™ services to 55,000 homes and businesses in the Greater Sudbury area.

"We're excited to bring our future-proof network to Greater Sudbury," said Karen Sheriff, President and CEO, Bell Aliant. "Greater Sudbury is the next logical step for our expansion of FibreOP. It is our third largest market and the largest outside of Atlantic Canada and the extensive aerial infrastructure in Greater Sudbury makes it ideal for FTTH technology. We've learned a lot from a successful build in Atlantic Canada, and the time is right for us to proceed in Sudbury."

Fibre-to-the-home is the most advanced broadband network available with 100 per cent fibre optic technology connected directly to a customer's home. FibreOP can easily handle an array of high-speed data and video services, delivering the best Internet and TV experience in the market.

"We're thrilled that FibreOP is coming to Greater Sudbury" said Mayor Marianne Matichuk. "It's great news that Bell Aliant chose Greater Sudbury for its first FibreOP expansion outside Atlantic Canada, making our community a leader in new technologies and providing our residents with access to the most advanced broadband technology in the world.  Greater Sudbury will now have an added edge; making our community even more attractive for new investments."

Greater Sudbury is part of Bell Aliant's operating territory. Through our strategic partnership with Bell, products are marketed under the Bell brand. FibreOP will be marketed as "Bell FibreOP.

FibreOP Internet will offer customers blazing fast Internet speeds. These speeds enable customers to not only download music or movies and share video or photos faster than ever before, but also to accommodate the growing need for multiple users within the home.

FibreOP TV will provide the ultimate TV experience allowing customers to get everything they are used to and amazing features they won't be able to get anywhere else.

By the end of 2012, Bell Aliant will have invested approximately half a billion dollars to extend FTTH to more than 600,000 homes and businesses.

Bell Aliant was the first in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home, and has been recognized as the best in all of North America for innovation and leadership in FTTH deployment with the FTTXcellence Award.

Customers in Greater Sudbury can pre-register for FibreOP service by visiting www.fibreop.ca

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 of customer service, choice and convenience.