MTS Allstream First in Canada to Offer Members of the Canadian Forces Wireless Service Hold While on International Deployment

Stock Symbol: MBT

WINNIPEG, July 2 /CNW/ - MTS Allstream Inc. ("MTS Allstream") is the first telecommunications company in Canada to offer wireless subscribers who are members of the Canadian Forces and are being deployed on international operations the chance to put their contracts on hold, while the time of their contract continues, during their call of duty overseas.

"The Canadian Forces are making an incredible contribution to important, often dangerous, missions around the world. When you are deployed to a distant place on the globe to carry out an important mission, we think your cell phone contract should be the least of your worries," said Kelvin Shepherd, President Consumer Markets, MTS Allstream. "We are pleased to provide MTS Mobility subscribers who are members of the Canadian Forces with peace of mind when it comes to their cell phone plan during their time away serving our country."

When a member of the Forces returns to Manitoba and reactivates his or her plan, that soldier will have the same cell phone number and will be put back on the same plan the soldier had before deployment. Soldiers will not receive monthly bills during their deployment time. If the cellular service contract expires while the soldier is away, then on returning to Manitoba and reactivating the account, that soldier may be eligible for a hardware upgrade.

For more information on the MTS Allstream Canadian Forces initiative, call 1-800-458-4543. To access the Canadian Forces Request for Wireless Service Hold online, visit www.mts.ca/cfwirelessrequest.

About MTS Allstream

MTS Allstream is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. As one of Canada's leading national communication solutions companies, MTS Allstream provides innovative communications for the way Canadians want to live and work today. The Company has more than 100 years of experience, with 6,000 employees across Canada dedicated to a mission of delivering true value as seen through the eyes of our customers. In 2008, MTS Allstream had nearly two million total customer connections spanning business customers across Canada and residential consumers throughout the province of Manitoba. The Company's extensive national broadband and fibre optic network spans almost 30,000 kilometres. MTS Allstream is a proud sponsor of Cindy Klassen, 2006 World Champion and Canada's greatest Olympian, and a proud contributor to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). Customers, stakeholders and investors who want to learn more about MTS Allstream services, markets, community commitments and record of creating shareholder value are encouraged to visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

Contacts

Media: Jill Gibson
MTS Allstream Corporate Communications
(204) 958-3392
media.relations@mtsallstream.com

Investors: Paul Peters
MTS Allstream Investor Relations
(204) 941-6178
investor.relations@mtsallstream.com