On December 15, 1919, The Mornington Municipal Telephone System was established, purchasing the Mornington-Wellesley Telephone Company's equipment for $8,284. The original system used magneto telephone lines and telephones had their own power supply of two dry-cell batteries. Customers could call neighbours on their party line without using the central switchboard in Milverton. Party lines had up to 30 customers paying $10 per year.

Milverton then converted to the common battery system. Telephones no longer needed their own batteries. Customers lifted their handset and an operator greeted them to place their call. The system had 775 subscribers; annual service cost $25 for a private line, $23 for a two-party line and $21 for a multi-party line.

A new office was built in 1964 and direct-dial technology was installed in 1965. This eliminated the need for operators to place long distance calls. Automatic number-identification equipment was installed in 1980, and a new computer was purchased in 1987 to print bills for customers. In 1988, Northern Telecom's new DMS10 digital switch was installed. Visitors came from as far as Japan to see it in operation. Since then, fiber optic cables have been installed to improve the reliability and quality of local and long-distance calls.

In 1994, a new office was built at the current location, 16 Mill Street East in Milverton. During that same year, the Supreme Court ruled that the CRTC would regulate telephone companies. In accordance with Bill C-62, Mornington Municipal Telephone System was required to operate as a public utility, private company or as a co-operative. The Commissioners and subscribers elected to form a co-operative and Mornington Communications Co-operative Limited began operations on November 4th, 1994.

In 1996, the co-operative rolled out dial up internet to existing members and to customers outside the 595 area that could dial the modems as a local call. High speed Internet services direct to member’s homes followed much quicker than in some urban areas. An opportunity to increase the customer base and to provide expanded internet services to members came with the purchase of Cyg.Net Internet Services Inc. in 1999, followed by Strat.Net in 2000 and some Waterloo based customers in 2003. Today Cyg.Net Internet offers dial up, DSL and wireless high speed services, web hosting, VoIP telephony, IP Centrex and customizable internet solutions throughout Perth County.

In 2002, Mornington introduced ALTO Long Distance to members. By offering ALTO Long Distance, members were able to continue receiving one bill for both local telephone services and long distance. ALTO Long Distance continues to be very successful with over 90% of the co-operative's members subscribed to one of the many cost-saving plans offered. ALTO Long Distance plans have been extended to customers outside of the 595 exchange. Many of the customers who have local line service from Mornington in Stratford, Listowel and Gadshill, also enjoy the cost savings offered by ALTO Long Distance.

New service offerings continued to be added.  In 2006, Mornington Communications began offering home and business security monitoring. Throughout 2006, Mornington also began working at becoming a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier and in the last quarter of 2007, using a small portion of the spare capacity in the switching equipment, began offering local telephone service in Stratford and Listowel.  Now customers in these communities can enjoy the same great service customers in the 595 exchange have come to rely on.

Throughout the summer of 2007, Mornington’s first Fiber to the Home deployment was introduced in Gadshill. Customers in Gadshill now receive local line service and high speed internet delivered to them by the latest fiber technology. The lessons learned in this deployment will help Mornington when services to existing members are upgraded from the existing copper facilities to fiber.

Mornington Communications continues to look at complimentary products and services that complete the comprehensive package of telecommunication services and the benefits they offer to our customers.  There are plans for two new products for 2008. The addition of a new cellular service in the Milverton area will greatly enhance cellular service in the community. In the near future, cellular customers will benefit from a stronger signal in the Milverton area along with text messaging, data services and roaming throughout North America. Members have been asking for improved cellular service and Mornington is responding with a completely updated digital service, enhancing the cellular experience of co-operative members. The second service to be deployed in the summer/fall of 2008 is IPTV services. Customers will be able to receive crystal clear, high definition television delivered to their homes over their internet connection. With the addition of these products, customers will also enjoy the benefit of added savings by bundling product and services.