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Telesat, Storm Internet Services bring broadband services to rural Eastern Ontario municipality

Township of North Stormont to Receive Highspeed Internet Services.

OTTAWA, ON, April 9, 2003 - The digital divide in rural parts of Eastern Ontario became a little smaller today, following an announcement that Telesat Canada and Storm Internet Services are teaming up to provide high-speed Internet accessibility to the township of North Stormont and its 6500 residents and business owners.

The township of North Stormont, located 40 minutes outside of Ottawa, becomes the first municipality to benefit from a joint agreement between Telesat and Storm that commits to delivering highspeed Internet services to rural and remote areas of Canada.

"At Telesat, we see delivering broadband services to an underserved area, such as North Stormont, as an important step in eliminating Canada's digital divide," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat's president and CEO. "By using Telesat's satellite technology, North Stormont citizens and businesses can have access to the very best in information and communication services."

North Stormont's broadband services combine Telesat's state-of-the-art satellite modem technology, powered by iDirect Technologies of Reston, Virginia, with Storm's powerful last-mile terrestrial wireless service to deliver the most comprehensive highspeed Internet coverage. The highspeed Internet service system will operate from the Crysler water tower where Telesat's satellite earth station and Storm's base wireless site are located.

"Both Storm and Telesat recognize the importance of broadband accessibility and its contribution to quality of life in rural communities," said Barry Williams, president and CEO of Storm Internet Services. "For several years, Storm has focused on providing last-mile connectivity for Internet services throughout Eastern Ontario - this is another demonstration of our commitment in building infrastructure with local communities."

The township of Crysler, a local business Cheese Factory, and local Conservation Authority have already shown considerable interest in this highspeed Internet offering, signing with Storm Internet for providing various broadband services.

"The arrival of high-speed Internet in our communities marks a significant turning point for residents of Crysler, Berwick and the surrounding area," said Archie Byers, mayor of North Stormont. "It will greatly improve the way we live, work and play."

About Telesat (www.telesat.ca)
Telesat is a pioneer in satellite operations and systems management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today, Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas and consulting services worldwide. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., Canada's largest communications company.

About Storm (www.storm.ca)
Storm Internet (Storm), a wholly owned subsidiary of International Datacasting Corporation (TSX:IDC), provides a wide range of Internet access services to residential and business users. An industry leader in fixed-wireless connectivity, Storm currently maintains one of the largest broadband wireless networks in North America, covering approximately 35,000 square kilometers, spanning more than 50 communities and municipalities. Storm is known for providing consistent and highly reliable connectivity as well as their dedication and care taken to maintain excellent customer service.

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For more information:

Marilynn Wright
Telesat
(613) 748-0123
http://www.telesat.ca

Dan Wilton
VP Marketing, Storm Internet
(613) 567-6585 x. 247
http://www.storm.ca

Dan Tisch or Rajani Kamath (media only)
Argyle Rowland Communications
(416) 968-7311 ext. 223/241