MTS to deploy Fibre To The Home Network in Selkirk

Stock Symbol: MBT

Multi-year broadband investment program brings the latest in advanced telecom services to MTS customers in Manitoba

WINNIPEG, April 6 /CNW/ - MTS today announced that it will deploy its advanced Fibre To The Home Network in the City of Selkirk and an adjoining portion of the Rural Municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements, north of Winnipeg. Customers on this new network will have access to the most advanced consumer telecommunications services that MTS offers today, including local telephone service and high-speed Internet services with speeds up to 25 Mbps, and future speeds of over 100 Mbps. This project, which will be started this year and will be completed over two years, will also allow for future deployment of MTS Ultimate TV in these areas. Using very high speed optical signals that extend directly into the home, fibre to the home provides higher quality and reliability while laying the foundation for even faster broadband connections and new services in the future.

"MTS has a strong record of investment in Manitoba, and this project will further improve our services in these areas by replacing older copper-based networks with the latest state of the art technology, fibre optic cable directly in the home. These customers are going to have access to services supported by one of the top network technologies in Canada," said Kelvin Shepherd, President, MTS. "The Fibre To The Home Network will provide excellent support for our current services and will lay the groundwork for the future with even more advanced capabilities. As part of our strategy to position MTS to respond to the demand for increased bandwidth for home communications services over the longer term, this advancement provides MTS with the competitive network capability to remain the market-leader in Manitoba."

MTS was the first to launch a fibre to the home network in Manitoba in the Waverley West neighbourhood of Winnipeg in January 2010. This innovative solution is the next evolution in advanced communication networks providing a connection to the home where additional bandwidth can be added quickly and cost effectively as communications services continue to evolve.

Through 2010 and 2011, MTS will deploy the new Fibre To The Home Network in Selkirk and in an adjoining area of the Rural Municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements. Customers will be migrated to the new network on a gradual basis. MTS customers will be contacted to schedule appointments for technicians to install the necessary connections in homes and businesses for the new network.

This project is part of MTS's multi-year broadband investment program and is contained within MTS Allstream's previously announced capital guidance for 2010.

About MTS

MTS is part of MTS Allstream, 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 The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). Customers, stakeholders and investors who want to learn more about MTS Allstream services, markets, community commitments and record of creating shareholder value are encouraged to visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

For further information: Media: Gillian Giesbrecht, MTS Allstream Corporate Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Investors: Paul Peters, MTS Allstream Investor Relations, [phone], [email protected]