Eastern Canadian fixed line and broadband operator Bell Aliant has posted slight year-on-year increases in third-quarter revenues and EBITDA of 0.8% and 0.3%, to CAD815.3 million (USD630.9 million) and CAD371 million respectively. Internet revenue grew by CAD11.7 million (13.6%) in the three months ended 30 September compared to the same period in 2007, with high speed subscriber growth of 12.4%. Local and long-distance telephony revenue declined by CAD4.9 million (1.4%) and CAD7.7 million (6.2%) respectively in the same period.
Bell Aliant also announced that it has entered into a long-term agreement with its sister operator Bell Canada to build an enhanced transport network connecting the cellular sites of Bell’s wireless division Bell Mobility in Atlantic Canada as well as rural areas of Ontario and Quebec covered by Bell Aliant’s fixed network. Mobile services in some regions use the Aliant brand name but are managed by Bell Mobility. The agreement forms part of Bell’s recently announced plan to build a national 3G HSPA network alongside its existing CDMA-based system, in partnership with nationwide CDMA rival Telus Mobility. The joint USD1 billion investment sharing plan also includes a future upgrade to 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. The HSPA network is expected to be fully operational by 2010.