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Iristel expands to Kenya, providing businesses and individuals with affordable and reliable communication services. Learn more!

A new area code – “428” is coming to New Brunswick (NB) on November 21, 2020. The new area code will be added to the code for the region: 506.  Existing customers’ phone numbers will not be impacted. After November 21, 2020, area code “428” will start to be assigned by providers.

A new area code – “753” is coming to Eastern Ontario on March 26, 2022. The new area code will be added to the codes for the region: 613/343. Existing customers’ phone numbers will not be impacted. After March 26, 2022, area code 753 will start to be assigned by providers. About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions. For more information: www.iristel.com pr@iristel.com or call 416-800-0010

A new area code – “368” is coming to Alberta (AB) on April 23, 2022. The new area code will be added to the codes for the region: 403/587/780/825. Existing customers’ phone numbers will not be impacted. After April 23, 2022, area code “368” will start to be assigned by providers. About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions. For more information: www.iristel.com pr@iristel.com or call 416-800-0010

A new area code – “742” was released for the Southern area of Ontario (ON) on October 16, 2021. The new area code will be added to the codes for the region: 905/289/365. Existing customers’ phone numbers will not be impacted. As of October 16, 2021, area code “742” started to be assigned by providers. About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions. For more information: www.iristel.com pr@iristel.com or call 416-800-0010

Iristel Wins 8 Blocks of 3500 MHz Spectrum for 5G Rollout for Rural Canadians Malicious CRA audit limits the facilities-based carrier’s capacity to invest further in the wireless auction to help bridge the digital divide for rural Canadians, especially f or Indigenous communities CORNER BROOK, NL and WHITEHORSE, YK – July 29, 2021 – Despite being held back by a groundless and drawn-out Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) hindrance, Iristel Inc. has been awarded eight blocks of the coveted mid-band spectrum at 3500 Megahertz by the Federal Government. “While we’re delighted with these eight blocks, the CRA has deprived us of potentially landing 80 other blocks that would serve hundreds more rural communities, many of which are Indigenous,” says Samer Bishay, President and CEO of both Iristel and Ice Wireless. “We laud Ottawa for setting aside spectrum for competitors by preventing the Big Three wireless oligarchs from bidding on it, but we question the CRA’s draconian tactics. On the one hand, the Federal Government is wisely setting policy to bolster competition, and on the other hand, its tax department is doing the opposite.” Spectrum is radio frequencies needed for smartphones. It is divided into three ranges: low-band, mid-band and high-band. The higher the range, the more devices it can handle; however, it has a smaller coverage area. The lower the range, the fewer devices it can handle but the coverage area is larger. Iristel already holds licenses for multiple low-band blocks of spectrum in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, rural Ontario, rural Quebec and all of Newfoundland and Labrador. This mid-band spectrum at 3500 MHz is ideal for 5G, the critical ingredient to launching the economy into the future with mega-fast data download speeds. Iristel paid for and was awarded a block in western Newfoundland, one in Labrador, two in Nunavat, two in Northwest Territories and two in Yukon. “All through the pandemic, the CRA has waged an unjustified war against us and withheld more than $80 million of our money. This currently tied up money in the CRA’s coffers could have been used to invest more heavily in spectrum to bring stronger competition and affordability to rural communities in Canada,” Mr. Bishay says. Iristel and its wireless subsidiaries reach 1.2 million Canadians and the 3500 MHz spectrum will dramatically increase network capacity. With 5G, rural tourist operators, retailers, business consultants and more will potentially have the same digital opportunities as urban Canadians. Also, with 15 million Iristel telephone numbers in service, every Canadian has used Iristel’s advanced Internet-based telecommunications networks in some form. Iristel is a proven Canadian telecom player with more than 20 years in business, not some fly-by-night operator that the CRA should punitively withhold its money as the case grinds on for years. “We’ve written senior government officials, including Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, to outline our case and to seek the release of our funds from the CRA, which have been held almost two years,” Mr. Bishay says. “We’re not looking for political favours, merely fairness. In the letter, I called upon the Government of Canada to respond positively and promptly for the benefit of all Canadians to demonstrate the government's commitment to genuine competition, diversification and fairness in the telecommunications sector.” In the 2021 budget, the Federal Government said Ottawa will spend $2.75 billion to bring more rural Canadians high-speed Internet with the ultimate goal of making high-speed access available to all of Canada by 2030. If the CRA was not holding Iristel’s money, the company could have bid on many more 3500 MHz spectrum licenses in Northern and Eastern Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and rural Ontario. About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions. For more information: www.iristel.com pr@iristel.com or call 416-800-0010

Iristel Tops 15 Million Phone Numbers in Canada Offers customers choice from East to West; North to South  TORONTO, ON – February 1, 2021 – Iristel Inc., Canada’s fastest-growing telecom services provider, today exceeded 15 million phone numbers across the country; offering Canadians choice and strong competition to the telecom oligopolists. “As a wholesaler, our brand may not be as well known as other phone companies, but our cloud communications and fully redundant platform for voice, messaging and emergency services are best-of-breed. We provide the connectivity fabric on most calls that every Canadian experiences on a daily basis,” says Samer Bishay, Iristel President and CEO. “Vaulting past 15 million numbers is a milestone and strong telecom competition means more benefit for Canadians. We’re powering businesses and empowering people.” Iristel’s advanced, all-IP network reaches more than 97 per cent of Canada’s population – including the most robust network in Canada’s remote Far North – covering more than 2,500 rate centers across the country. Iristel’s advanced powerful APIs and self-service portal are easy-to-use and provide an efficient way for customers to order, manage and control land line, SIP trunks and wireless numbers individually or in bulk. “Our company started as a VoIP network and over the last 22 years we have grown and evolved into one of the most advanced communications networks in Canada that is relied upon by businesses, Tier 1 carriers and millions of Canadians for things like 911 emergency calls, industrial Internet of Things, machine-to-machine, gaming on mobile devices, and a lot more” Bishay says. “You might say we provide the technological plumbing that makes millions of mobile devices work seamlessly regardless of the communications provider.” To learn more about Iristel services, visit www.iristel.com . About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions.

The new network architecture uses a combination of multiple satellite technologies that include traditional C-band fixed satellite services and combines Ka-band fixed satellite capacity made available through the open access component of Innovation, Science and Industry Canada’s Connect to Innovate program. Click here to learn more .