Bell Aliant invests another $2.6 million in south shore Nova Scotia with latest FibreOP expansion

Liverpool and Shelburne to join other south shore communities, Bridgewater and Lunenburg, with access to fibre-to-the-home technology

HALIFAX, May 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant Inc. (TSX: BA) is expanding its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network on Nova Scotia's south shore to more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Liverpool and Shelburne. FibreOP^TM delivers a dedicated fibre-optic line directly into each home and business, powering an unparalleled online and TV experience. With today's announcement, Bell Aliant's FibreOP coverage in the province extends to more than 325,000 premises and represents an investment of $121 million since 2010.

"Demand for FibreOP is growing in every corner of the province," said Andre LeBlanc, Vice President, Residential Markets at Bell Aliant. "We started building in larger urban centres, but families and businesses in smaller centres also want to reap the rewards of the fastest Internet in the region and the most amazing TV entertainment available."

Nova Scotians in the Annapolis Valley, Halifax, Truro, New Glasgow, Sydney, Bridgewater, Digby, Antigonish, Yarmouth, Lunenburg, Amherst, Port Hawkesbury, Springhill, Mount Uniacke – and soon Chezzetcook, Stewiacke and Shubenacadie – are  already enjoying the fastest Internet on the market and stunning TV quality with 140 HD channels, social apps for the TV, wireless TV capability and more.

"We've put building local business capacity and fostering innovation at the forefront of our economic strategy in Queens County," said Christopher Clarke, Mayor, Region of Queens Municipality. "Access to world-class technology gives our rural business a huge advantage, and connects our people and businesses with global commerce. Fibre-optic technology delivers a fast, reliable infrastructure critical to growth, allowing business to compete in a global marketplace."

"Local economies need access to telecommunications infrastructure and technology like FibreOP to grow and compete," said Karen Mattatall, Mayor, Town of Shelburne. "And local residents need fast, reliable access to goods, services and opportunities found only online. Fibre-optic technology is the way forward for all towns in Nova Scotia wanting to foster innovation."

FibreOP delivers the best online and entertainment experience, and with a FibreOP bundle, customers save on the best of everything.

• The FibreOP advantage: A direct fibre-to-the-home connection offers the fastest Internet in the market with limitless potential to increase speeds in the future. Bell Aliant increased FibreOP Internet speeds three times in the last 18 months and currently offers download/upload speeds of up to 250/30 Mbps.
  
  
• Leading the way: Bell Aliant was the first to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home and was recognized for North American innovation and leadership in FTTH deployment with the FTTXcellence Award.
  
  
• Reaching even more communities: FibreOP is available to approximately 827,000 homes and businesses in more than 70 communities across Atlantic Canada and Ontario. And we`re not done yet. Bell Aliant is on target to reach one million premises passed by the end of 2014
  
  
• There's an app for that: Bell Aliant has just added TMN GO to its list of amazing apps. It was the first to introduce social TV apps and offers Facebook, Twitter, the Weather Network App and Galaxie.

Customers in Nova Scotia can check availability and pre-register for FibreOP service at www.bellaliant.net/FibreOP , or by calling 1-866-FIBREOP (1-866-342-7367.)

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. 

SOURCE: Bell Aliant Inc.

English, Sarah Dawson, Bell Aliant Corporate Affairs, Toll-free: [phone], [email protected], [email protected]; French, Christine Manore, Bell Aliant Corporate Affairs, Toll-free: [phone], [email protected], [email protected]