Features - Enterprise Data Insights:

ALIANT CALLS ON EMC TO CONSOLIDATE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

EMC Corporation announced recently that Aliant Telecom, Canada's third-largest incumbent telecommunications company, is utilizing EMC's enterprise storage area network (SAN) technology to consolidate its network-based information storage. This consolidation enables Aliant Telecom to quickly respond to the increasing requirement for data storage technology within their public service networks and save the company more than $1 million (CDN) within the first year of implementation and in excess of $5 million over the next five years by lowering the total number of servers in its SAN from more than 400 to approximately 320.

Aliant Telecom, operating throughout Atlantic Canada as NBTel, MTT, NewTel and IslandTel, needed a common platform to serve its information storage requirements across multiple service networks. Its Network Engineering team chose EMC because EMC's highly available enterprise storage solution helps reduce redundancies, save costs and simplify information management. The new enterprise storage infrastructure centralizes and manages network data across all four Atlantic provinces served by Aliant Telecom, providing fast and reliable access to information as well as automated back up and recovery capabilities.

The solution places EMC's technology in the mix of telecommunication networks, supporting services such as web hosting, e-commerce and various network management applications, which is a growth area for the utilization of information technology and positions EMC to be involved in the evolution of these expanding IT-based service networks.

"We wanted to collaborate with industry leaders who could provide us with proven technology, professional services and the round-the-clock support we need as we continue to grow. EMC not only fulfils our current needs but also offers a solid foundation that can accommodate future expansion," said Curtis Howe, Chief Technology Officer at Aliant. "The interoperability, high availability and scalability of EMC's storage system and software seamlessly integrate with our existing platforms and applications, allowing our Network Engineering team to increase response time and productivity while reducing total cost of ownership."

"We are delighted Aliant Telecom realized the total value of EMC's networked storage infrastructure -- manageability, scalability and profound cost savings -- and selected us for this significant initiative," said Ross Allen, Area Manager, Telecommunications and Media, EMC Canada. "EMC is the only storage provider in the market that can offer the automation, openness and integration Aliant Telecom needs to successfully consolidate its network data applications under a single, open management architecture."

Centralize and Manage Information with Ease

Aliant Telecom's SAN is based on an EMC Symmetrix and EMC CLARiiON IP 4700 systems and EMC software. EMC Data Manager (EDM) and TimeFinder will perform instantaneous backup of all the servers in the data centres without disruptions. It is estimated that EDM will contribute approximately 50 per cent of the total IT savings.

As the first step towards automated networked storage, Aliant is using EMC ControlCenter/ Open Edition, the most powerful and focused product for the centralized management of multi-vendor storage environments. From a single console, Aliant Telecom can manage all their storage platforms, networking devices and server-based resources.

Going forward, Aliant Telecom will develop a business continuity strategy, built upon EMC's Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF), to ensure its mission-critical information is replicated, dispersed, secure and always available. Aliant Telecom is planning a second data centre in 2003 to focus on the company's data recovery effort.

About Aliant Telecom

Aliant Telecom is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aliant Inc. Aliant is a recognized leader in communications and information technology. From its headquarters in eastern Canada, Aliant develops pacesetting telecommunications technologies and commercializes them for customers, and for export through partners worldwide. Aliant complements its industry-leading telecommunications business with strengths in developing information technology and knowledge services applications. The company's 10,200 employees collaborate to deliver the highest quality of customer service, while consistently demonstrating innovative capabilities that drive growth in existing and new markets. Aliant is a TSX 100 company with a market capitalization of approximately $4 billion. More information on Aliant may be found on our Web site at www.aliant.ca.

About EMC

EMC Corporation is a world leader in information storage systems, software, networks and services, providing automated networked storage solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to better and more cost- effectively manage, protect and share their information. More information about EMC's products and services can be found at www.EMC.com.

EMC Canada, headquartered in Toronto, is a wholly owned subsidiary of EMC Corporation with nine offices from coast to coast and a staff of more than 260 professionals in sales, technical support and services.

Contact: Brenda M. Reid, Aliant Telecom, 866-739-2503, Brenda.Reid@aliant.ca.