CTV Upgrades Network in 16 Cities with Aastra’s VideoRunner®

New terrestrial infrastructure provides one of the longest video/data
domestic networks in the world

CONCORD, ONTARIO, CANADA – April 19, 2006 – Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX-AAH) today announced CTV Television Inc., one of Canada’s leading broadcasters, has chosen its VideoRunner® MPEG networking platform for a major new national network deployment. VideoRunner addresses CTV’s complex demands for a converged, fully managed, real-time video and data networking solution that seamlessly integrates into their existing legacy network.

Traditionally, data transport between separate locations, along with video file sharing and live joint production across geographic regions has become manageable in a broadcasters distribution network. However, offering real-time video feeds, such as live news or sporting events often extends a broadcasters transmission network in various directions, escalating the service providers cost of video, voice, and data. VideoRunner resolves this common problem by converging real-time video collection and video file delivery simultaneously within common transport facilities, reducing cost of services dramatically.

This is one of the longest video/data domestic networks in the world stretching from Victoria, British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The 16 unit VideoRunner shelf deployment, interconnected with OC3/DS3 network facilities allows CTV to precisely manage and partition bandwidth to meet their changing needs.

With its ability to schedule and transport MPEG real-time permanent and occasional use video in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint configurations, VideoRunner has increased CTV’s aggregate data bit rate from 25 megabits to 45 megabits, and has enabled the company to compensate for latency in its IP services, improving the efficiency of the network by 40%. Video services are now approximately 350 milliseconds from London, England to Vancouver, British Columbia.

“We chose Aastra’s VideoRunner because of its flexible, modular design and the assortment of application cards which can be installed to meet our intercity MPEG SD and HD video and data networking needs,” said Albert Faust, Director, Media Technology Systems, of CTV. “We also utilize Aastra’s Service Manager™ automation engine to provide scheduling and immediate automatic turn-up of live video services from any point in our Video Express Network while transporting video clips through our Video Gateway network simultaneously. Aastra’s strong understanding of our business, coupled with their on-site support in designing and building out our network played a significant role in our decision to implement VideoRunner.”

CTV will also deploy VideoRunner for confidence monitoring within each market, allowing technicians to view real-time picture quality and network connectivity between local market and uplink facilities. Aastra’s Vidiem™ Element Manager provides CTV with real time visibility to their entire network with SNMP traps.

“Aastra offers the most versatile platform to meet the current and future needs of our customers,” said Tony Shen, Co-CEO of Aastra Technologies. “VideoRunner has proven itself worldwide as a reliable, scalable and feature-rich video networking platform to broadcasters like CTV, TBS, NFL and DIRECTV. We pride ourselves on continuing to meet customer needs and market demand.”

About Aastra Technologies Limited
Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX - AAH), headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, develops and markets products and systems for accessing communication networks over the PSTN and the Internet. Aastra serves clients across North America and Western Europe. For more information on Aastra or its products, please visit the website at www.aastra.com/digitalvideo .

About CTV
CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTV owns 21 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 17 specialty channels, including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by Bell Globemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca .

For further information contact:

Kim Kiley
Holus Bolus PR
401.816.0447
mailto:%0d%0akkiley@cox.net

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