New in the Sault, starting today (updated)

There’s a new choice available for Saultites looking for the latest in home Internet and TV technology.

Bell Aliant announced Wednesday it is investing $15 million to offer 24,000 Sault Ste. Marie homes and businesses new, state-of-the-art, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology to enhance their Internet and TV services.

Speaking to SooToday.com Wednesday morning, Bell Aliant Vice President of Residential Markets Andre LeBlanc said “our new FibreOP technology provides almost infinite bandwidth on a super fast highway.”

Switching to Bell Aliant, LeBlanc told us, means Internet customers can do everything they currently do, such as downloading movies or e-mailing photos, only much, much faster.

For example, LeBlanc said, “with FibreOP Internet, you can download Forrest Gump in under five minutes, or your favourite Beatles record in about 10 seconds. Or, if sharing is your thing, you can upload 100 Facebook photos in 20 seconds, or 2,000 Instagram photos in less than seven minutes.”

Bell Aliant says Internet download speeds of up to 250 Mbps, and upload speeds as high as 30 Mbps, will be available through FibreOP.

Bell Aliant begins offering the service to prospective Sault Ste. Marie customers beginning today.

Sault Ste. Marie is the second city in Northern Ontario with access to FibreOP.

FibreOP was made available to thousands of customers in Greater Sudbury first, in 2012.

“We’re expanding (to Sault Ste. Marie) because we know, by looking at consumer trends, that demand for bandwidth is growing,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc said FibreOP technology is not available in larger U.S. cities such as Chicago or Los Angeles.

“FibreOP puts Sault Ste. Marie up there with some of the advanced cities in Asia in terms of broadband technology.  It’s a game changer, not only for us, but for the people of Sault Ste. Marie.”

LeBlanc said technicians are about town busily preparing the community for FibreOP technology.

“Those fibre optic cables will be going through the city, right by your house.  It’s going to let us give our customers everything they want today and what they will need in the future.  Once it’s in, give us a call, we just turn the dial and provide even more and more and more bandwidth.”

“We’re also bringing in a next generation TV service, with everything you expect and more…crystal clear quality and stunning sound, along with some really cool and innovative apps, like weather apps.”

LeBlanc told us that beginning today, anyone interested in trying out FibreOP may visit the local Bell Store, call 1-866-FIBREOP (1-866-342-7367), or go online at fibreop.ca

“We think this is much more advanced.  It provides a leap into the future today, with the same reliable Bell Internet, the best TV, and your home phone bill, all on one bill.  We’ll be getting the message out to people in Sault Ste. Marie.  We encourage people to contact us.”

“It’s a very compelling choice for local consumers.  We would welcome you with open arms.”

Both Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Debbie Amaroso and City Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi have gone on record as saying they are pleased with Bell Aliant’s FibreOP arrival in Sault Ste. Marie as a competitive edge and source of economic benefit.

“The City of Sault Ste. Marie is not a customer yet, but we hope to sign them up soon,” LeBlanc told us.

“Once our build is complete, the footprint will cover the majority of Sault Ste. Marie. We are starting in the downtown core and will continue to build out the network from there. The best way for customers to find out if their neighborhood will be covered is to visit fibreop.ca or call 1-866-FIBREOP. Our FibreOP plan involves aerial infrastructure only and we hope to reach as many homes as we can this year.  We currently offer a FibreOP bundle for residential customers. However, we will continue to look for future expansion opportunities in all markets – including business.”   

A news release issued by Bell Aliant today follows.

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Bell Aliant brings world-class broadband network to Sault Ste. Marie, ON

FibreOP connects straight to the home and delivers the fastest Internet download and upload speeds

SAULT STE. MARIE - Bell Aliant Inc. (TSX: BA) is bringing its world-class fibre-to-the home (FTTH) network to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, investing $15 million to pass approximately 24,000 premises in the area.

FibreOP is the only network that is 100 percent fibre directly to a customer's home or business, delivering the fastest Internet upload and download speeds, and the best digital TV experience in the market.

"FibreOP truly is a game-changing technology, and we're thrilled to continue our expansion in Ontario by bringing this state-of-the-art network to Sault Ste. Marie," said Andre LeBlanc, VP residential markets, Bell Aliant. "Consumers are more connected than ever before, and FibreOP is designed to deliver the best TV and Internet experience -- today and in the future."

Consumption of Internet continues to evolve, with more people using more connected devices at the same time.

FibreOP can easily handle multiple connected devices, large data files and streaming video -- and delivers the best Internet and TV experience in the market.

FibreOP is available for sale in the downtown area of Sault Ste. Marie starting today, and will expand throughout the city during the year.

"Bell Aliant's FibreOP network gives our city a competitive edge," said Debbie Amaroso, mayor, City of Sault Ste. Marie. "It gives our residents access to state-of-the-art technology - on par with anyplace in the world."

"There's also great economic development potential with FibreOP," added Joe Fratesi, chief administrative officer, City of Sault Ste. Marie. "In addition to the many benefits we already boast, fibre-to-the-home will be a key differentiator for the City of Sault Ste. Marie."

With Internet download speeds of up to 250 Mbps, and upload speeds as high as 30 Mbps, FibreOP delivers the best Internet experience in the market today.

FibreOP also delivers the best TV experience with more than 100 HD channels, the best Whole Home PVR, and amazing apps like Facebook, Twitter, Galaxie Music and more.

With a FibreOP bundle, customers save on the best of everything.

Sault Ste. Marie is part of Bell Aliant's operating territory.

Through its strategic partnership with Bell, products are marketed under the Bell brand. FibreOP will be marketed as "Bell FibreOP."

Bell Aliant has passed more than 33,000 premises with FibreOP in Greater Sudbury.

The service is now available in the following communities: Azilda, Blezard Valley, Chelmsford, Coniston, Garson, Hanmer, New Sudbury, and Minto.

In 2012, Bell Aliant turned up the dial on its FibreOP speeds, giving Sudbury customers access to 250 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload.

Bell Aliant was the first in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home.

By the end of 2013, the company will have extended its fibre-optic technology to approximately 800,000 homes and businesses in its territory.

Sault Ste. Marie customers can pre-register for FibreOP service at www.fibreop.ca, or call 1-866-FIBREOP (1-866-342-7367) to be notified when service is available in their area.

About Bell Aliant

Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is one of North America's largest regional communications providers and the first company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology with its FibreOP™ services.

Through its operating entities, it serves customers in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and technology services including voice, data, Internet, video and value-added business solutions.

Bell Aliant's employees deliver the highest quality customer service, choice and convenience.

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