Form 6-K - Report of foreign issuer [Rules 13a-16 and 15d-16]
November 07 2023 - 11:16AM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF
FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR
15D-16
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
November 7, 2023
BCE Inc.
(Translation of registrants name into English)
1, Carrefour Alexander-Graham-Bell,
Verdun, Québec, Canada H3E 3B3
(514) 870-8777
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☐ Form
40-F ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b) (7): ☐
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b): 82- .
Notwithstanding any reference to BCE Inc.s Web site on the World Wide Web in the document attached hereto, the information contained in BCE Inc.s
site or any other site on the World Wide Web referred to in BCE Inc.s site is not a part of this Form 6-K and, therefore, is not furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit |
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99.1 |
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Press Release |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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BCE Inc. |
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Date: November 7, 2023 |
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By: |
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(signed) Alexis Cloutier |
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Name: |
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Alexis Cloutier |
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Title: |
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Deputy Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
For immediate release
Bell to cut capital expenditures and reduce high-speed fibre Internet expansion due to CRTC decision that discourages network investment
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Bell to reduce planned network investment by over $1 billion in
2024-25, including a minimum of $500 to $600 million next year as a direct result of the CRTC decision |
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CRTC decision leaves access to high-speed fibre Internet at risk for millions of Canadians in rural, suburban and
urban communities |
MONTRÉAL, November 6, 2023 Bell today announced its intention to reduce capital expenditures by
over $1 billion in 2024-25, including a minimum of $500 to $600 million in 2024, money the company had planned to invest in bringing high-speed fibre Internet to hundreds of thousands of additional
homes and businesses in rural, suburban and urban communities.
This reduction is in addition to Bell decreasing its 2023 capital expenditure budget by
$100 million in anticipation of the CRTC decision to unrelentingly pursue wholesale access at the expense of critical network investment.
Bells fibre network is now available to over seven million homes and businesses. Prior to the CRTCs decision, Bells near-term plan was to
build high-speed fibre to nine million locations by the end of 2025. Bell will now re-consider pending builds in all communities where it had planned to expand, and will reduce its 2025 build target from nine
million to 8.3 million locations.
Rolling back fibre network expansion is a direct result of the CRTCs decision. Todays decision forces
Bell to open up its fibre network in Ontario and Quebec but does not mandate access to fibre-to-the-premises networks in western Canada where there are over three
million fibre locations passed. If the intent of the decision is to benefit consumers then it is arbitrary and capricious to leave western Canadian consumers behind. When Bell enters a community with high-speed fibre Internet, it increases
competition, and customers benefit from better service, better value and lower prices.
When others scaled back investment at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bell leaned in and accelerated our annual capital expenditures to historic levels to provide Canadians with the reliable connectivity that they needed. Since 2020, we have invested over
$18 billion in our networks and expanded high-speed fibre Internet to over three million homes and businesses across Québec, Ontario, Atlantic Canada and Manitoba. When public policy conditions in telecommunications support major
investments and job creation, Canadians in small and large communities benefit directly from the best network technology available.
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Mirko Bibic, President and Chief Executive Officer, BCE and Bell Canada |
Bells network expansion over the past four years has brought high-speed fibre Internet to hundreds of communities in Québec, Ontario, Atlantic
Canada and Manitoba. Despite this industry-leading investment, more than five million locations on Bells roadmap still do not have access to fibre technology. Todays CRTC decision jeopardizes Bells fibre network expansion to many
of these households and businesses.
Page 1 of 3
Bells fibre network delivers the worlds fastest Internet technology and helps bridge the digital
divide, enabling people and businesses in communities small and large to thrive. These private sector investments in connectivity depend on the right public policy conditions. By encouraging investment, the federal government could provide more
households and businesses of all sizes access to high-speed Internet services and address placed-based disparities that currently exist in this country.
Facts
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$1 billion invested in broadband and 5G networks over one year generates an estimated $2 billion in
economic activity and supports over 7,000 jobs at Bell and throughout our Canadian supply chain.1 |
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Bells pure fibre Internet and Wi-Fi was ranked the fastest in
Canada in Ooklas Q1-Q2 Speedtest Awards report, the biannual analysis of wireline and wireless performance across the country.2
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Bell Fibe delivers the worlds fastest Internet technology with reliable speeds multiple times faster than
what cable competitors offer. |
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In 2022, we introduced Bell Gigabit Fibe 3.0, offering symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to three
gigabits per second. |
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On October 31, 2023, Bell MTS launched Bell Gigabit Fibe 3.0 in Manitoba, bringing the fastest Internet
speeds to Manitobans in eligible areas. |
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Bell Gigabit Fibe 8.0, now available in eligible areas of Ontario, delivers download speeds five times faster
than cable technology and upload speeds 250 times faster than cable technology. |
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the expected reduction in Bells
planned fibre network expansion and capital expenditures following the CRTCs decision mandating Bell to provide resellers with access to its fibre-to-the-premises
network and the impacts expected to result therefrom, our business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities, 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 are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several
assumptions which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, 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 applicable
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. For additional information on assumptions and
risks underlying certain of our
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Estimate calculated on the basis of Table 36-10-0594-01, Input-output multipliers, detail level, from Statistics Canada for the Communication engineering construction industry. |
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Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest
Intelligence® data for Q1Q2 2023. |
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forward-looking statements made in this news release, please consult BCE Inc.s (BCE) 2022 Annual MD&A dated March 2, 2023, BCEs 2023 First, Second and Third Quarter MD&As
dated May 3, 2023, August 2, 2023 and November 1, 2023 and BCEs news release dated November 2, 2023 announcing its financial results for the third quarter of 2023, filed by BCE with the Canadian provincial securities
regulatory authorities (available at Sedarplus.ca) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available at SEC.gov). These documents are also available at BCE.ca.
About Bell
Bell is Canadas largest communications
company,3 providing advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet, media and business communication services throughout the country. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE
Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better
tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell Lets Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Lets Talk Day
and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries
media@bell.ca
Investor inquiries
Richard Bengian
richard.bengian@bell.ca
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Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections. |
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