Similarly, TELUS Mobility customers gain seamless access to the Bell Mobility digital PCS network in Ontario and QuÃbec, extending TELUS Mobility’s rural coverage in Ontario and Quebec.

As a result of this agreement, Bell Mobility and TELUS Mobility will each be able to avoid capital expenditures of more than $500 million (over the term of the 10-year agreement). This is the capital expenditure that would have been required for Bell Mobility to build a network to meet the needs of rural areas in Alberta and B.C. In addition, Bell Mobility will be able to fast-track the delivery of wireless PCS and 3G applications to rural areas without building hundreds of new towers, and customers will have a greater choice of providers.

We want to extend the benefits of digital PCS technology to more Canadians, from more locations, through more devices that operate on the CDMA network, said Pierre Blouin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bell Mobility. This agreement allows us to address areas of Canada where our respective networks are under-utilised and allows Bell Mobility to deliver advanced wireless PCS voice and data services to rural customers in Alberta and B.C. As a result of this agreement, millions of consumers will benefit through the rapid availability of a greater range of innovative wireless PCS products and services.

Bell Mobility will continue to compete aggressively against TELUS Mobility and other Canadian wireless companies for customers and market share, added Blouin. We are currently investing more than $180 million to build our own network in urban centres in Alberta and British Columbia which will set the stage for the launch of a national next-generation network.

The agreement signed today extends and enhances the current roaming arrangement between Bell Mobility and TELUS Mobility. The agreement covers voice and data services at 1.9 GHz and 800 MHz. It also covers the next generation of wireless technology, such as the evolution to 3G or the CDMA2000 path, including 1xRTT deployment. As a result, this reciprocal roaming agreement will speed the delivery of next generation services to Canadians and reduce capital expenditures for both Bell Mobility and TELUS Mobility in offering these services on a national basis.