Bell Corporation of Canada(BCE) announced that it had completed the acquisition of Ziply Fiber, a leading optical fiber Internet service provider in the northwest of the United States, with a transaction amount of C $5 billion (US $3.65 billion) in cash and net debt of about C $2.6 billion. This acquisition will enable BCE to add 1.4 million fiber coverage points in the United States, consolidating its market position as the third largest fiber Internet supplier in North America.

To accelerate its expansion into the US market, BCE and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board of Canada (PSP Investments) announced earlier this year a strategic partnership to jointly establish Network FiberC. Combined with the acquisition of Ziply Fiber, this long-term strategic partnership is expected to bring BCE’s fiber coverage points to 8 million in the United States.

Part of the funding for this acquisition comes from BCE’s sale of its minority stake in Maple Sports Entertainment Company (MLSE) on July 1, 2025. This transaction marks BCE’s conversion of its passive holdings in MLSE equity into core business growth drivers.

Ziply Fiber will operated as an independent business unit, with its headquarters still located in Kirkland, Washington, and the existing management team and technical staff team will be retained, which is consistent with BCE’s strategic focus on building the best optical Internet network. Through the combination of strength, BCE and Ziply Fiber will provide better services to existing and new customers in Canada and the United States, and meet the market’s growing demand for faster and more reliable Internet services.

BCE will update its 2025 financial guidance to reflect the impact of this acquisition when announcing its second quarter results on August 7, 2025.

Management’s viewpoint

The acquisition of Ziply Fiber is a key milestone in BCE’s fiber growth strategy, marking the establishment of a significant presence in the highly attractive US market. Mirko Bibic, President and CEO of BCE Inc. and BCE Canada, stated that by combining BCE’s deep fiber expertise with Ziply Fiber’s experienced management team and ambitious expansion plans, we are building a strong long-term growth platform that enables scale expansion and geographic diversification, creating significant value for shareholders. ”

Harold Zeitz, CEO of Ziply Fiber, stated, “BCE’s corporate culture, vision, and long-term strategy are highly aligned with our mission of providing the best and fastest fiber network through exceptional customer experience. We look forward to accelerating the construction of fiber optic networks, serving more communities, and providing them with the connections and services they deserve. ”

About BCE Company

As the largest communication company in Canada, BCE provides advanced broadband Internet, wireless communication, television, media and business communication services. For more information, please visit Bell.ca or BCE. ca.

Through the “BCE for Better Together” program, we invest in supporting the socio-economic prosperity of communities and creating a better today and tomorrow. This includes the “BCE Let’s Talk” initiative to promote mental health in Canada, anti stigma campaigns such as national “BCE Let’s Talk Days,” and funding community care, research, and workplace programs. For more information, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

About Ziply Fiber

As an operator providing “the fastest home Internet in the United States -50G service”, Ziply Fiber has now become an independent business unit of BCE Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc. (Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange: BCE), Canada’s largest communication company. The company was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington. Its foundation in the northwest region is reflected in the fact that the executive team has long lived and worked in the communities they serve. This localized thinking and historical heritage are important components of the company’s culture and future vision. For more product and service information, please visit ziplyfiber.com.