Cancom Business Television and Bell Conclude Marketing Alliance on Interactive Distance Learning.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 1997--(TSE, ME SAT.) Cancom Business Television (BTV) and Bell concluded a three year agreement whereby they will jointly market satellite-based interactive distance learning (SIDL) and business television services to businesses and organizations across Canada, providing users with a single point of contact.

Under the Alliance Agreement, Bell will act as prime telecommunications contractor for clients who wish to implement BTV and Bell's point-to-multipoint (SIDL) facilities across Canada.

Within the agreement, Cancom will co-market the product, provide technical support to Bell, as well as provide all the satellite antenna systems, Scientific Atlanta receiver/decoders (IRD) and the One Touch interactive distance learning response systems for voice and data interaction with the host site. Bell currently operates Scientific Atlanta digital encoding devices at its Toronto TOC (Television Operating Centre).

Cancom BTV will also provide all studio facilities and One Touch computer host facilities that an Alliance customer may require.

"Cancom is delighted by this agreement which marries our expertise in providing satellite interactive distance learning with Bell's strong infrastructure and management of telecommunications," said Alain Gourd, President and CEO of Cancom. "The great winners are the private satellite television users who can now have easy access to the highest level of expertise and facilities available in Canada."

Larry Steinman, Vice-President, Cancom Business Television commented, "This partnership is very promising for an even greater development of interactive business, training and educational satellite communications in our country. Our digital satellite facilities and One Touch response system are an unbeatable combination that is the most advanced in the world and will now be much easier to access."

Bell Canada, the largest telecommunications operating company, markets a full range of state-of-the-art products and services to more than 7, 000 million businesses and residence customers in Ontario and Quebec. Bell Canada is a member of Stentor - and alliance of Canada's major communications companies.

Cancom (Canadian Satellite Communications Inc.), Canada's leading provider of digital satellite services, trading on the Toronto and Montreal Stock Exchanges, distributes digital television and radio signals to 2,525 small cable companies reaching 3.7 million homes, most of which are in remote communities across the country. Cancom also leads the field in providing digital network design, management and services for businesses, using hybrid satellite-terrestrial systems; mobile messaging and tracking for over 10,000 trucks; satellite-to-cable Internet; and business television with interactive distance learning for business, institutions and governments.

CONTACT: Cancom

Larry Steinman, 905/ 272-6664

905/ 272-6059 (FAX)

[e-mail]

or

Cancom

Patricia Dumas, 905/ 272-6603

613/ 232-4814 (FAX)

[e-mail]

or

Bell

Daniel Hansen, 514/ 870-5077

[e-mail]

or

Bell

Perry Blocher, 416/ 581-4397