MTS phone service in Gods Lake Narrows, Waasagomach, St. Theresa Point and
Garden Hill impacted by damage from lightning strike

Stock Symbol:  MBT

WINNIPEG, Sept. 2 /CNW/ - A lightning strike which occurred during a thunderstorm on Friday, August 27, has seriously damaged equipment at MTS's communications site at Gods Lake Narrows, impacting telephone service in that community as well as Waasagomach, St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill.

The lightning strike damaged electronic components which support the ability of customers in these communities to make local and long distance calls.  While the service has been restored for short periods since the lightning strike, the equipment has not yet returned to service in a sustained fashion. Other MTS telecommunications services, such as Internet, wireless and FleetNet 800™, were not affected and continue to operate as they did prior to the storm.

MTS technicians have been fully engaged in a network recovery process since the damage occurred and are working with equipment vendors to move replacement components into place. MTS will provide further updates as the restoration proceeds.

About MTS

MTS is a business unit of MTS Allstream Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. As one of Canada's leading national communication solutions companies, MTS Allstream provides innovative communications for the way Canadians want to live and work today. The Company has more than 100 years of experience, with 6,000 employees across Canada dedicated to a mission of delivering true value as seen through the eyes of our customers. MTS Allstream has nearly two million total customer connections spanning business customers across Canada and residential consumers throughout the province of Manitoba. The Company's extensive national broadband and fibre optic network spans almost 30,000 kilometres. MTS Allstream is a proud sponsor of Cindy Klassen, 2006 World Champion and Canada's greatest Olympian, and a proud contributor to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s common shares are listed on Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). Customers, stakeholders and investors who want to learn more about MTS Allstream services are encouraged to visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer

This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "statements") about our corporate direction, business opportunities, operations, financial objectives,  planned activities, 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, anticipation or projection in such forward-looking statements.  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 "Risks and Uncertainties" section and elsewhere in our most recent annual MD&A and any subsequent quarterly MD&As, as well as our most recent Annual Information Form, all of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Please note that forward-looking statements reflect our expectations as at the date hereof.  We disclaim 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. 

For further information:

Media:          

Gillian Giesbrecht      
MTS Allstream Corporate Communications  
[phone]    
[email protected]