Dean Prevost, President of Allstream, addresses Vancouver Board of Trade regarding the future of business communications

Prevost explains how a Company's network can address challenges faced by businesses, and why the removal of foreign investment restrictions will benefit Canadian companies

Stock Symbol:  MBT

VANCOUVER, March 28, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, Dean Prevost, President of Allstream, one of Canada's leading all-business communications providers, spoke to members of the Vancouver Board of Trade and members of the surrounding business community about the power of communications and IP networking.

Mr. Prevost explained to a crowd of more than 140 people in Vancouver  how and why their network is a force that can reconcile the challenges faced by businesses today - such as the need to do more with less, the expectation of simple in an increasingly complex world, and the ability to be local and global at the same time.

"[These] paradoxes represent opposing or polarizing forces you can't easily choose between," said Mr. Prevost.   "And to my mind, networking - or the network - is a force that can reconcile those challenges we all face today."

Mr. Prevost discussed some of the ways Allstream is working to do this for its customers across Canada.  For example, by providing the flexibility to explore new - and better - ways of doing things, integrating networking services for a seamless customer experience, and managing the complex parts of the network on behalf of the customer so they can focus on their business.

Mr. Prevost concluded by commenting on the recent measures announced by the federal government to lift foreign investment restrictions as they relate to smaller telecommunications providers and new entrants.

"For your business, the network is oxygen: it's critical for survival… but that network - in Canada - was for decades starved of oxygen," said Mr. Prevost.   "This was the result of restrictions that inhibited investment in our sector. The government has done all Canadians a favour…we are giving our sector bigger lungs - the capacity to take in more oxygen.  And that will make us stronger."

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 2,500 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.

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer

This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "statements") about the Company's corporate direction, business opportunities, operations, financial objectives and future financial results and performance 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 below, the "Risks and uncertainties" section, elsewhere in the Company's 2011 Annual MD&A and 2011 Annual Information Form, all of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.  Please note that forward-looking statements reflect Management's expectations as of today. 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.

Media:
Sylvie Houghton
Corporate Communications
[phone]
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