Bell Aliant continues to bank on FTTH, even as profits dip

HALIFAX – Costs associated with the expansion of Bell Aliant’s fibre-to-the-home network (FTTH) FibreOp ate in to second quarter profits at the Halifax-based regional telco. Bell Aliant reported net earnings of $79 million for the quarter ended June 30, down from $83 million in the same quarter of 2011. Operating revenues dipped 0.7% to $688 million, as declines in local and long distance revenues driven by lower network access services (NAS) were largely offset by growth in all other major revenue categories, led by TV and Internet. EBITDA fell 1.1% to $330 million from $334 million in the same period...