Canadian broadband provider, Bell is investing heavily in its broadband infrastructure as part of the Ontario Accelerated High Speed Internet Program (AHSIP).
The company is ploughing more than $650m into the programme, with an additional $484m coming from the Government of Ontario.
Bell will deploy its full-fibre network to more than 80,000 homes and businesses in underserved regions across Ontario as part of AHSIP by 2025. Participation in the programme is also allowing the provider to fully-fund fibre deployment to an additional 37,000 homes and businesses in the vicinity of its AHSIP build to reach even more Canadians. The network will provide full-fibre connections with download speeds of up to 3Gb/s.
Bell was a key participant in the AHSIP auction by Infrastructure Ontario, winning lots in many communities throughout the province, including: Bracebridge, Carleton Place, French River, Hastings Highlands, Huntsville, Kenora, Madoc, McKellar, Mississippi Mills, Nipissing, Renfrew, Sundridge, Thunder Bay and Timmins.
The provider is currently undertaking what it calls its ‘most aggressive fibre buildout ever’ this year, with plans to reach up to 900,000 more homes and businesses across much of Canada with direct fibre connections. By the end of this year, Bell will have invested approximately $14bn in capital expenditures since 2020, including planned capital expenditures of approximately $5bn in 2022. These investments are going towards the company’s FTTH, 5G, wireless and core networks, as well as ongoing expansion into rural and remote communities, boosting capacity and ensuring resiliency.
Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of Bell and parent company, BCE explains: ‘Bell is proud to partner with the Government of Ontario on this historic initiative to bring our all-fibre broadband network to even more hard to reach communities across the province. In 2022 alone, Bell's capital expenditures will reach approximately $5 billion, an unprecedented commitment to invest in building better communities across Canada, made possible by progressive policies at all levels of government to encourage facilities-based competition and investment.’
