Bell Aliant and Province of New Brunswick support thriving ICT sector with announcement of new data centre in Saint John

• $25-million data centre enables Bell Aliant to offer world class facilities  for New Brunswick  business' network and IT infrastructure needs
• Bell Aliant expands position as leading data centre provider in Atlantic region
• Province of New Brunswick to contribute $5 million to the project
  
  

SAINT JOHN, NB, Feb. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant and the Province of New Brunswick announced today that a new world-class data centre will be built in Saint John, N.B.  Bell Aliant will build the $25-million facility, offering data centre capacity to meet current and future needs of New Brunswick's robust ICT (Information and Communications Technology) sector.

The Province of New Brunswick will contribute $5 million to the project. New Brunswick Premier David Alward joined Karen Sheriff, Bell Aliant president and chief executive officer for the announcement in Saint John.

"New Brunswick's knowledge economy is growing, and creating new opportunities for job creation," said Alward.  "Our government's investment in this leading-edge data centre will help New Brunswick companies attract new investment and create jobs here at home."

The new data centre will be a 24,000-square foot, one megawatt (1MW) facility, with potential to expand to deliver 4MW. Approximately 50 new jobs will be created through construction and operation of the centre. The centre will provide critical infrastructure that will keep businesses in the province, help them grow and attract new businesses to New Brunswick.

"Businesses need reliable, secure, scalable data services, and we're making the necessary infrastructure investments to boost Bell Aliant's Atlantic Canada data centre offering to meet that need," said Karen Sheriff, President and CEO of Bell Aliant.  "With support from the Government of New Brunswick we will build one of the most advanced and innovative data centre facilities in North America - and as the ICT sector continues to grow, guarantee our capacity to expand and attract future investment."

Bell Aliant is Atlantic Canada's leading data centre provider with over 30 years' experience serving customers across public and private sectors, and regional, national and international markets. Bell Aliant delivers value-added enterprise and professional services, including capacity management, disaster recovery planning, security, monitoring, managing and networking services. In the last five years, Bell Aliant has invested more than $40 million to expand and enhance its data centre service offering with facilities in Saint John, N.B., Halifax, N.S. and St. John's, N.L. This includes $14 million invested in its existing New Brunswick data centre services.

"A facility of this calibre showcases our local infrastructure assets to potential new business and demonstrates how companies like Bell Aliant can meet their future needs," said Geoff Flood, co-Chair of the New Brunswick Research and Innovation Council. "Data management is a crucial component of the culture of innovation we're fostering in New Brunswick."

Bell Aliant has been an active player in developing and expanding New Brunswick`s technology sector. This partnership builds on a strong shared commitment to foster economic prosperity and innovation in the region. As part of the agreement, the Province of New Brunswick will extend its existing voice services agreement with Bell Aliant by one year with significant savings under the current contract.

About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant Inc. (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.

SOURCE: Bell Aliant Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bruce Macfarlane, Communications, Economic Development, 506-453-8607;

Katherine VanBuskirk, Corporate Affairs, Bell Aliant, 902-237-0198