MTS Ultimate TV service launches in Selkirk

Company continues to demonstrate its commitment to expanding fibre to the home network to Manitoba communities

Stock Symbol:  MBT

WINNIPEG, MB, Dec. 7 /CNW/ - MTS is pleased to announce that is has launched its industry-leading MTS Ultimate TV service in Selkirk, MB. The service is available over MTS's fibre to the home network "FiON", which, in addition to MTS's Ultimate TV service, is capable of offering some of the fastest Internet speeds available.

"The launch of the MTS Ultimate TV service in Selkirk is made possible by our ongoing investment in fibre to the home technology and MTS's commitment to bring the most advanced services to our customers," said Kelvin Shepherd, President, MTS. "Our FiON network provides excellent support of our current telephone and high speed internet services, while laying the groundwork for delivering new services, such as Ultimate TV, over one of the most advanced network technologies in Canada."

Customers taking advantage of the Ultimate TV service can expect some of the most advanced TV viewing features available.  Our Whole Home PVR feature allows customers to pause a recorded show in one room and finish watching it in another room.  Our unique My Picks and Ultimate Picks applications allow customers to keep track of six different channels at the same time, while TV Call Display lets them see who is calling on their MTS Home Phone without leaving the comfort of their couch.  Ultimate TV service also offers an extensive lineup of over 350 digital TV and music channels, 55 HD channels, and access to Video on Demand and Pay-Per-View events.

Over the next five years, MTS plans to invest $125 million as part of an accelerated deployment of its fibre to the home network. By the end of 2015, MTS expects to deploy fibre to about 120, 000 homes in close to 20 Manitoba communities. In addition to Selkirk and adjacent portions of St. Andrews and St. Clements, this will include the communities of Steinbach, Thompson, The Pas and certain areas within Winnipeg.

To date, approximately 760 homes have already been connected to the FiON network with nearly 1,500 additional Selkirk homes eligible for connection at this time. Teams will continue to make more homes eligible for fibre connection and Ultimate TV service and convert Selkirk residential customers to the new network throughout 2010, with plans to have the Selkirk network fully deployed by 2011.

MTS Ultimate TV Service is currently available to most areas in Winnipeg, Portage La Prairie and Brandon, and to a growing number of customers in Selkirk. For more information on MTS Ultimate TV Service, please visit www.mts.ca/ultimatetv.

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 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. 

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