Bell completes acquisition of Axia NetMedia, assumes all operations of Alberta's SuperNet broadband network

CALGARY, Sept. 4, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - BCE Inc. (Bell) (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) today announced it has completed its acquisition of Axia NetMedia Corporation, the Calgary-based operator of SuperNet, the Alberta broadband network connecting thousands of provincial and municipal offices, Indigenous communities, schools, libraries, healthcare institutions, businesses and Internet service providers throughout the province.

"Bell welcomes the Axia team as we move forward together in executing our new multi-year SuperNet partnership with the Government of Alberta," said Dan McKeen, Bell's Vice Chair, Western Canada. "The integration of Axia's seasoned Alberta team with Bell's national scale and established SuperNet assets across the province enables both the seamless delivery of SuperNet services and accelerated innovation opportunities for broadband users throughout Alberta."

In addition to the contract to supply all SuperNet services, Bell now owns and operates Axia network assets connecting a total of 402 rural Alberta communities, along with the 27 urban areas already connected to SuperNet by Bell. The acquisition also creates new opportunities to provide advanced Bell Business Markets (BBM) solutions in Security, Data Centres and Unified Communications to Alberta-based and national enterprise customers and Internet service providers in the province.

The integrated Bell-Axia team will be led by Dan McKeen, Bell's Vice Chair, Western Canada, and Ryan Klassen, who will be responsible for all day-to-day operations in the newly created role of Vice President, Business Solutions and Axia Group.

Launched in 2005, SuperNet was built to deliver broadband network connectivity for Alberta government and public organizations, business users and Internet providers offering service directly to customers throughout the province. The network now connects more than 1,900 schools and other learning centres, 650 government locations, 250 healthcare facilities, 300 libraries and 80 Alberta municipalities. 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.

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.

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Michelle Gazze
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SOURCE Bell Canada