ST. JOHN’S – Persona Communications (now EastLink) and MTS Allstream have completed an undersea fibre leg to Newfoundland.
“This expansion was the final leg of a coast-to-coast national fibre-optic network designed to provide MTS Allstream customers with cost effective, advanced IP-based products and services,” says the MTS Allstream press release.
MTS Allstream participated in the consortium led by Persona Communications, now owned by EastLink, in this major redundant fibre optic build stretching from Halifax, Nova Scotia to St. John’s, Newfoundland, as did the N&L provincial government (of course, making it an official hot potato earlier in 2007). “The expansion enables MTS Allstream to bring new competitive alternatives and solutions to the businesses of Newfoundland, including the company’s innovative next-generation IP-based services,” reads the release.
"This achievement marks a significant milestone for MTS Allstream and the people of Newfoundland, and forever changes the landscape of the telecom industry in Atlantic Canada. The door is now open for new services, and more choice for businesses. We are proud to be the first telecommunications provider to leverage this new alternative fibre-based route to bring competitive services to Newfoundland," said Paul Frizado, Chief Technology Information Officer, MTS Allstream.
Until now, incumbent telco Aliant owned the only fibre lines on and off the island of Newfoundland.
The network expansion involves over 3,000 kilometres of new fibre infrastructure.
