Allstream first major national Canadian carrier to be MEF 2.0 Certified - the highest global standard for Carrier Ethernet Services

Stock Symbol:  MBT

TORONTO, May 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Allstream (TO: MBT), Canada's largest all-business communications provider, has earned the industry's highest level of certification for the design and delivery of Carrier Ethernet (CE) network services.

"I am proud that Allstream is the first among Canada's major national carriers to achieve this significant milestone," said Allstream President Michael Strople. "The MEF CE 2.0 certification reinforces Allstream's reputation for innovation and provides assurance to our customers that the products and services they are buying are the best in Canada and the world."

Telecommunications companies that are CE 2.0 certified are capable of connecting a patchwork of individual carrier networks into a seamless experience for customers who then benefit from consistent features, functionality and predictable performance.

"CE 2.0 is a highly challenging and significant accreditation to achieve.  The CE 2.0 test plan sets a new standard for Carrier Ethernet services," said Bob Mandeville President and Founder of Iometrix, the official MEF certification test lab.

The MEF granted its CE 2.0 certification to two of Allstream's key services in its Ethernet-based product and service portfolio:  E-Line and E-Access.  These services simplify the network infrastructure required for organizations with multiple locations.

Allstream's 30,000-plus kilometre national IP fibre-optic network combines advanced IP connectivity, digital switching, Ethernet-based services and the latest Internet security technologies and services, including right-of-way access in major Canadian city centres and nine cross-border connections to the United States.

About Allstream
Allstream is a Canadian leader in IP communications and the only national communications provider that works exclusively with business customers of all sizes. With nearly 600,000 customer connections, Allstream's momentum is fuelled by the knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial spirit of its employees across the country who collaborate with customers to determine their unique communications solutions needs. Supported by its more than 30,000-kilometre nationwide high-performance fibre-optic network, Allstream's broad portfolio of business solutions are built from an array of advanced communications technologies and services including a wide range of innovative, highly-scalable IP-based solutions to help organizations communicate more efficiently and profitably. Allstream takes pride in its commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, and has long been recognized by its technology partners for the contributions made to their businesses. Allstream is wholly-owned by Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., which is listed on the TSX (trading symbol: MBT). For information on Allstream's products and solutions, please visit www.allstream.com.

About The MEF:
The MEF is a global industry alliance comprising more than 220 organizations including telecommunications service providers, cable MSOs, network equipment/software manufacturers, semiconductors vendors and testing organizations. The MEF's mission is to accelerate the worldwide adoption of Carrier-class Ethernet networks and services. The MEF develops Carrier Ethernet technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote interoperability and deployment of Carrier Ethernet worldwide.

For more information about the Forum, please visit the MEF web site at http://www.MetroEthernetForum.org/

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer

This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "statements") about Allstream's future financial results, performance and sales opportunities that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any conclusion, forecast or projection in such forward-looking statements. Therefore, forward-looking statements should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Examples of statements that constitute forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "project", "should", "anticipate", "could", "target", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "outlook", "see", "set", "pending", and other similar terms.

Factors that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, matters identified in the "Material assumptions" section and the "Risks and uncertainties" section of the Company's 2013 Annual Report and 2013 Annual Information Form which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Please note that forward-looking statements reflect Management's expectations as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: MTS Allstream

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Keith Irish
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