Allstream Deploys New Wireless High Speed Internet Access Service in Cumberland, Ontario
March 12 2004 - 9:07AM
PR Newswire (US)
Allstream Deploys New Wireless High Speed Internet Access Service
in Cumberland, Ontario Service Offers Ease-of-use, Secure and
Reliable Fixed and Mobile Internet Access For Small Office and
Teleworking Applications CUMBERLAND, ON, March 12
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allstream (TSX: ALR.A, ALR.B;NASDAQ:
ALLSA, ALLSB), Canada's largest alternative communication solutions
provider, today announced Cumberland, Ontario as the next Canadian
market for the roll-out of the Company's new wireless High
SpeedInternet Access service for business customers. This new
service in Cumberland follows a similar launch in Richmond, British
Columbia on March 4, 2004. Allstream's offering provides business
customers with the unique benefits of fixed wireless access and
cost effective "always on" access to the Internet. Similar to the
Richmond deployment, this new service is the result of a venture
between Allstream, Inukshuk Internet Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., and NR
Communications, LLC to develop a Multipoint Communications System
(MCS) network. Allstream is purchasing wholesale wireless access
technology for "last mile" connectivity and has created a business
high speed wireless offering to be included in its Connectivity
Internet Access Portfolio. This service will primarily target small
office and teleworking applications, as well as enterprises with
remote branch locations. Allstream's wireless High Speed Internet
Access service delivers all the benefits of a large enterprise
Internet solution to small businesses: - Cost-effective wireless
high speed Internet access with download speeds of up to 2.1 Mbps
at a price of $59.95 per month; - Ease of installation - simple
plug n' play; - Reliability of service based on non-line-of-sight
technology using only licensed spectrum; - Portability - offers a
broad coverage area; - Mobility - bundled with a global roaming
Internet account. Provides access from over 35,000 wireline and
6,000 Wi-Fi access points. "This offering in Cumberland is a key
driver for us to reach a very important market segment, providing
broadband wireless access technology at a very competitive price
point," said John McLennan, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Allstream. "We have been successful in signing up new
customers in Richmond and we look forward to similar success in
Cumberland. Our ability to offer this service to businesses in two
communities supports our commitment to provide Canadians with more
choice for high speed Internet access." Allstream's new wireless
offering demonstrates the company's commitment to enhancing its
overall IP network and services. Since 2000, Allstream has been a
leader in offering Business IP services, launching the first
national MPLS service in Canada. Last November, Allstream
significantly enhanced its IP solutions portfolio with the new
Dynamic Class of Service - offering four different classes of
services that prioritizes traffic over a single network. Some key
customer features of this innovative offering include: - Download
speeds of up to 2.1 Mbps; - Customer premise equipment with
wireless modem; - One Dynamic IP address; - Domain name hosting; -
5 domain email boxes; - Unlimited monthly data transfer; -
Compatibility with industry leading operating systems; - VPN
compatibility; - Global roaming access; - Web-based account
management tools; and - Service level guarantee of 99.7 per cent
availability. About Allstream Allstream is a leading communication
solutions provider with a world- class portfolio of Connectivity,
Infrastructure Management and IT Services. Focused on the business
market, Allstream collaborates with customers to create tailored
solutions that meet their unique needs and help them compete more
effectively. Spanning more than 18,800 kilometres, Allstream has an
extensive broadband fibre-optic network and the greatest reach of
any competitive communication solutions provider in Canada, and
provides international connections through strategic partnerships
and interconnection agreements with other international service
providers. Allstream is a public company with its stock traded on
the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols ALR.A and ALR.B and
the NASDAQ National Market system under the symbols ALLSA and
ALLSB. Visit Allstream's website, http://www.allstream.com/ for
more information about the company. Note to Allstream Investors
This news release includesstatements about expected future events
and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and
subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim
the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements
provisions contained in the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that actual
performance will be affected by a number of factors, many of which
are beyond the Company's control, and that future events and
results may varysubstantially from what the Company currently
foresees. Discussion of the various factors that may affect future
results is contained on page 1 of the Company's Annual Information
Form dated May 2, 2003, which is filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission, and SEDAR.
DATASOURCE: Allstream Inc. CONTACT: Media: May Chong, Allstream,
(416) 345-2342, ; Investors and Analysts: Brock Robertson,
Allstream, (416) 345-3125, ; Dan Coombes, Allstream, (416)
345-2326,
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