Ice Wireless and Iristel Conclude Successful Trials for Competitive Satellite-based Telephone and Internet Network in Canada's North

Affiliated Companies Report ‘Crystal Clear’ Voice Quality and Download Speeds of up to 100  Mbit/s from SES Satellite AMC-9; Service Rollout Expected Next Summer at Affordable Prices

IQALUIT, NU, Nov. 9, 2012 /CNW/ – Ice Wireless and Iristel concluded successful trials this  week for a new satellite-based telephone and Internet network to be launched in Canada’s North.  The new network was first demonstrated October 31, 2012 in Iqaluit to members of the Northern  Communications and Information Systems Working Group at a Canadian Department of  National Defence meeting to discuss challenges with northern infrastructure.

The trials were conducted using SES AMC-9, a 24 transponder C-band satellite whose footprint  comfortably covers Nunavut and which is also capable of covering other rural and remote  communities in Canada’s North.

“This is the first time anyone has field tested an SES satellite in Canada’s North,” said Samer  Bishay, President of Ice Wireless and Iristel. “What we experienced in Iqaluit was absolutely  amazing. Our call quality for our fixed line and mobile phone tests was crystal clear, and we  demonstrated broadband Internet speeds of 100 Mbits/s on a 2.4 meter dish, which is just as  good, if not better, than any other satellite covering the North today. We are thrilled with the  results.”

Space and earth segment connectivity will be managed by Juch-Tech, a Hamilton-based earth  station whose experience in providing reliable and cost-effective Internet solutions to Africa has  convinced the company that Northern Canada has fallen behind many of the world’s poorest  regions in terms of telecommunications service.

“Juch-Tech has already established satellite connectivity across Africa, so we thought to  ourselves, why aren’t we doing this in our own backyard?” said Walt Juchniewicz, President of  Juch-Tech. “Communication is a fundamental necessity in all our daily lives, and Canada’s  North has fallen behind the rest of the world. Arctic communities, government departments,  Canada’s military, emergency response agencies, schools, hospitals and residents all deserve to  have better telephone and Internet access.”

The successful telephone and Internet trials utilized a broad range of technology and related  partnerships, including NovelSat modulation technology, XipLink acceleration performance  enhancement technology, and Atop HD video streaming and formatting for GSM/IP-based  mobile devices. Onsite support was provided by Coman Arctic, a logistics company based in  Iqaluit that has worked with Ice Wireless for the past two years to bring competitive  telecommunication services to Nunavut.

In light of the successful telephone trials, Ice Wireless is now moving ahead with its roll out of  3G service to Iqaluit in Summer 2013, which will include download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps.  At the same time, Iristel plans to expand its CLEC footprint to offer a range of telephony  services including fixed line home telephone and long distance services.

About ICE

Established in 1999, Ice Wireless (“ICE”) is a telephone and internet company that provides  service to rural and remote communities in northern Canada. ICE provides a full range of  affordable and leading edge voice, video and data services, including GSM cellular, to  Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, Aklavik, Behchoko and Whitehorse. In terms of population, the  Ice Wireless network covers 70% of the Northwest Territories and 78% of the Yukon. ICE  cellular customers can use their phones across Canada through a roaming agreement with  Rogers Wireless and Fido. For more information please visit www.icewireless.ca.

About Iristel

Established in 1999, Iristel Inc. (“Iristel”) was granted a carrier license by the Canadian RadioTelevision Commission (CRTC) in 2000 and is one of Canada’s largest VoIP service providers  with a coast-to-coast network. Iristel offers a complete portfolio of IP services in Canada,  including hosted IP PBX, virtual faxing, virtual roaming, and global IP trunking products and  services. For more information please visit www.iristel.ca.