- Bell to assume all operations of Alberta's SuperNet broadband network serving
commercial and government customers throughout the province
- Acquisition of Axia NetMedia ensures service continuity for
Albertans who rely on SuperNet
EDMONTON, July 3, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - BCE Inc. (Bell)
(TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) today announced it has been awarded a
multi-year contract to operate Alberta SuperNet, the government-led
initiative providing broadband network connectivity to schools,
hospitals, libraries, municipal and indigenous offices, government
facilities, enterprise business customers and Internet service
providers in 429 urban and rural communities throughout the
province.
Bell currently owns and operates the SuperNet network assets
serving 27 urban centres in Alberta, and will now also operate the network
elements connecting a total of 402 communities in rural
Alberta.
"As Canada's broadband communications leader and a longstanding
partner in the SuperNet initiative, Bell is ready to provide
SuperNet users throughout Alberta
with world-class broadband connections," said Tom Little, President of Bell Business Markets.
"We thank the government for their continued confidence in Bell,
and look forward to delivering the next generation of SuperNet
connectivity to support Alberta's
continued economic growth and prosperity."
Bell also today announced it has entered into an agreement to
acquire Axia NetMedia Corporation, the Calgary-based operator of SuperNet's rural
assets. The acquisition ensures the continuation of SuperNet
services for rural customers while enhancing connectivity
opportunities for Alberta and
national enterprise customers doing business throughout the
province. Terms of the transaction, expected to be complete by this
fall, will not be disclosed.
"We look forward to welcoming the Axia team to Bell as we
integrate our operations to deliver the highest levels of service
to Alberta's SuperNet users," said
Dan McKeen, Bell's Vice Chair,
Western Canada. "Combining the
scale and resources of Bell with the proven operational strengths
of both companies will support the delivery of seamless broadband
service for all SuperNet users today and into the future."
In operation since 2005, SuperNet was built to ensure broadband
network connectivity for Alberta
public organizations and business users. The network is also
leveraged by hundreds of private service providers to deliver
Internet and other services directly to customers throughout the
province.
SuperNet consists of more than 13,000 kilometres of fibre and
2,000 kilometres of high-speed wireless links, connecting more than
3,300 government services and public institutions including over
1,950 learning centres, 650 government locations, 300 healthcare
facilities, 300 libraries and 90 Alberta municipalities, with more
schools being built and connected each year. Currently, 43 First
Nations in the Treaty 6, 7 and 8 regions and 8 Métis settlements
have SuperNet connectivity within or adjacent to their
communities.
About Bell
Founded in 1880, Bell is the country's
oldest and largest telecommunications provider and continues to
lead the way in Canadian communications with a strategy of
unparalleled investment in broadband network and service
innovation.
Bell invests more than $4 billion
each year in Canada's next-generation network infrastructure,
delivering world-class fibre connections to the home and business,
Canada's Best National Mobile Network, and the country's largest
network of 28 state-of-the-art data hosting and cloud computing
centres. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca or Bell.ca.
Earlier this month, PCMag announced that Bell Internet service
is the fastest in Canada by far,
with Bell outscoring its nearest rival by more than 30% based on
approximately 12,000 Internet speed tests conducted by PCMag
between September 2017 and
June 2018.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day, and provides significant Bell funding of mental health
care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To
learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Caution concerning forward-looking statements
Certain
statements made in this news release are forward-looking
statements. These statements include, without limitation,
statements relating to the proposed acquisition by BCE Inc.
("Bell") of Axia NetMedia Corporation ("Axia"), the expected timing
of, and certain benefits expected to result from, such proposed
transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts.
All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe
harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.
Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to
inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several
assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the
possibility that actual results or events could differ materially
from our expectations expressed in or implied by such
forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that
any forward-looking statement will materialize and we caution you
against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe
our expectations at the date of this news 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. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for
the purpose of giving information about the proposed transaction
referred to above and its expected impact. Readers are cautioned
that such information may not be appropriate for other
purposes.
The completion and timing of the proposed transaction are subject
to customary closing conditions, termination rights and other risks
and uncertainties. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the
proposed transaction will occur, or that it will occur on the terms
and conditions, or at the time, contemplated in this news release.
The proposed transaction could be modified, restructured or
terminated. There can also be no assurance that the benefits
expected to result from the proposed transaction will be
realized.
Media inquiries
Marc Choma
613-785-0622
marc.choma@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Investor inquiries
Thane Fotopoulos
514-870-4619
thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada