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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