Ontario tax harmonization will enable Bell to further accelerate service and network investment in the province

    MONTREAL, Quebec, March 30 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell announced today that
expected tax savings resulting from the Ontario government's implementation of
a single sales tax structure in 2010 mean Bell can accelerate its investment
in the province next year - in addition to the $1.5 billion the company will
spend in Ontario this year alone.
    "BCE has already committed to invest approximately $3 billion across
Canada in 2009, and about $1.5 billion of that total will be spent in Ontario.
Even in the midst of current economic conditions, we're making these
multi-billion investments in our team, our broadband networks and our service
operations in order to deliver a better Bell customer experience at every
level," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell and BCE.
    "As has been the experience in other provinces in which Bell operates,
savings from a single sales tax structure will accelerate our investment in
Ontario. Fewer dollars going toward taxes in 2010 mean more dollars that Bell
will reinvest in our networks and service in the province next year," said Mr.
Cope.
    The harmonization of the PST and GST on July 1, 2010 will result in the
elimination of sales tax on the network and other equipment Bell uses to
deliver services to customers in the province. Considering other Ontario
industries have long benefited from retail sales tax exemptions on equipment
investments, harmonization is welcome recognition of the contribution
communications companies like Bell make to the province's economy. Of BCE's
50,000 employees across Canada, approximately 24,000 work in Ontario.
    Bell is focused on a clear new goal - to be recognized by customers as
Canada's leading communications company - and is executing on 5 Strategic
Imperatives in order to achieve it: Improve Customer Service, Accelerate
Wireless, Leverage Wireline Momentum, Invest in Broadband Networks and
Services, and Achieve a Competitive Cost Structure.
    Bell has announced multiple service and network investment initiatives in
recent months, including the rollout of a new next-generation wireless
network; expanded high-speed fibre optic network capabilities; new service
programs such as Same Day Next Day service, Express Install and Internet Full
Install; and the purchase of 2,000 new Field Services vehicles.
    On March 2, Bell announced it would acquire consumer electronics retailer
The Source, adding more than 750 stores to Bell's national distribution
network and approximately 3,000 employees to the Bell national team. The
transaction is expected to close this summer.

    Headquartered in Montréal, BCE (TSX, NYSE: BCE) is Canada's largest
communications company, providing the most comprehensive and innovative suite
of communication services to residential and business customers. Operating
under the Bell and Bell Aliant brands, the Company's services include Bell
Home phone local and long distance services, Bell Mobility and Solo Mobile
wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite and VDSL
television, IP-broadband services and information and communications
technology (ICT) services. For corporate information on BCE, please visit
www.bce.ca. For Bell product and service information, please visit
www.bell.ca.

    Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements made in this news release, including as to our plans,
strategic priorities, expected investment levels and timing, the proposed
acquisition of The Source and other statements that are not historical facts,
are forward-looking statements and are subject to important risks,
uncertainties and assumptions.
    The results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may
differ materially from actual results or events. As a result, we cannot
guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and you are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the
date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date.
Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in
this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Except as otherwise indicated by BCE, these statements do not
reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of
any dispositions, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business
combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur
after the date hereof.
    Risks and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from current expectations include, among others: general economic
and credit market conditions, the level of consumer confidence and spending,
and the demand for, and prices of, our products and services; our ability to
implement our strategies and plans in order to produce the expected benefits;
our ability to continue to implement our cost reduction initiatives and
contain capital intensity while seeking to improve customer service; the
intensity of competitive activity, including the increase in wireless
competitive activity that could result from Industry Canada's licensing of
advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum, and the resulting impact on our
ability to retain existing and attract new customers, and on our pricing
strategies and financial results; increased contributions to employee benefit
plans; our ability to respond to technological changes and rapidly offer new
products and services; events affecting the functionality of, and our ability
to protect, maintain and replace, our networks, information technology (IT)
systems and software; events affecting the ability of third-party suppliers to
provide to us essential products and services; labour disruptions; the
potential adverse effects on our Internet and wireless businesses of network
congestion due to a significant increase in broadband demand; events affecting
the operations of our service providers operating outside Canada; our ability
to raise the capital we need to implement our business plan, including for BCE
Inc.'s share buy-back program and dividend payments and to fund capital and
other expenditures; our ability to discontinue certain traditional services as
necessary to improve capital and operating efficiencies; regulatory
initiatives or proceedings, litigation and changes in laws or regulations;
launch and in-orbit risks of satellites used by Bell ExpressVu Limited
Partnership (Bell TV); competition from unregulated U.S. direct-to-home (DTH)
satellite television services sold illegally in Canada and the theft of our
satellite television services; BCE Inc.'s dependence on its subsidiaries'
ability to pay dividends; stock market volatility; depending, in particular,
on the economic, competitive and technological environment at any given time,
and subject to dividends being declared by the board of directors, there can
be no certainty that BCE Inc.'s dividend policy will be maintained; Bell
Aliant's ability to make distributions to BCE Inc. and Bell Canada; health
concerns about radio frequency emissions from wireless devices; delays in
completion of the high speed packet access (HSPA) overlay of our wireless
network and the successful implementation of the network build and sharing
arrangement with TELUS Communications Company to achieve cost efficiencies and
reduce deployment risks; the timing and completion of the proposed acquisition
by Bell Canada of national electronics retailers "The Source by Circuit City"
is subject to closing conditions and other risks and uncertainties; and loss
of key executives.
    For additional information with respect to certain of these and other
assumptions and risks, please refer to BCE's 2008 annual management's
discussion and analysis ("MD&A") dated March 11, 2009 included in the BCE 2008
Annual Report, filed by BCE with the Canadian securities commissions
(available at www.sedar.com) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (available at www.sec.gov). These documents are also available on
BCE's website at www.bce.ca.

For further information: Media inquiries: Jacqueline Michelis, Bell
Media Relations, (613) 785-1427, jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca; Investor
inquiries: Thane Fotopoulos, BCE Investor Relations, (514) 870-4619,
thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca