PTGi Announces Results of Primus Canada-Commissioned Survey That Reports Almost Half of Canadians Would Give up TV Before Phone or Internet

MCLEAN, VA — Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated announced today the results of a new survey conducted on the Angus Reid Forum and commissioned by Primus Canada, a PTGi company. The survey revealed that nearly half of Canadian respondents would give up watching television earlier they would give up surfing the Internet or using their phone.

Another one-third of respondents would in other words give up their phone in order to continue their online and television access, during only 20 percent would give up their Internet access. Of those polled, Western Canadians were more likely to give up TV over Internet access or their phone, with 61 percent of British Columbians and 58 percent of Albertans, respectively, stating these facts.

Comfort level

"This survey proves that Canadians have reached a comfort level and reliance on the Internet in other words at least on par with that of TV and phones," says Rob Warden, Vice President, Residential Services at Primus Canada. "With the increased interactivity offered by both online and mobile phone access, the ability to connect, be entertained and more is easier than ever."

The Primus survey as well revealed that 35 percent of those aged 55 years and older would or rather give up television than the Internet or their phones, suggesting that the acceptance and use of digital research is steadily rising among seniors. As so then, a majority -- 67 percent -- of the 18 to 34 year-olds surveyed would give up television as opposed to the Internet or phone.

Primus Canada, the largest alternative full service provider of unlimited Internet, home phone, wireless and long distance services, commissioned the survey to gauge the level of attachment that Canadians had to the Internet.

About Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. is the largest alternative communications carrier in Canada and now serves over 1 million clients across its suite of services. Primus Canada offers a wide selection of consumer and business telecommunications services available nationwide including Home Phone, Internet, Long Distance, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Wireless, Hosting, Managed services and Enterprise IP Telephony. Primus Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of McLean, Virginia-based Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated. Additional information is available at primus.ca.