BCE invests $860 million in fourth quarter

Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. invested $860 million during the fourth quarter, primarily in its wireline and wireless Internet capacity, the company said Thursday in its quarterly results. The company said the quarterly investment reflected a 34.4 per cent increase over the same period last year. The spending focused on the rollout of fibre to residential neighbourhoods, multiple-dwelling units and fibre-to-the-home in Québec City, as well as network enhancements to support the company’s Fibe Internet and Fibe TV services. During 2010, Bell invested $2,463 million, 3.1 more than in 2009, the company said. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Bell activated 552,714 wireless subscribers and added a total of 156,708 postpaid subscribers. The company’s net TV additions were 23,019 and its net high-speed Internet additions were 12,099 for the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the company had 2,020,098 TV subscribers, or 3.7 per cent more than at the end of 2009. Bell said it has five “strategic imperatives”: investing in broadband networks and services; accelerating wireless; leveraging “wireline momentum”; improving customer service; and achieving a competitive cost structure. Bell’s wireline division posted a total drop of 64,172 subscribers during the quarter, an improvement of 40.3 per cent over the same period last year, the company said. TV subscribers increased by 23,019 during the quarter, compared to an increase of 40,889 last year. High-speed Internet subscribers increased by 12,099, an increase of 55 per cent over 2009, and residential Internet customers more than doubled year over year, Bell said. “Bell Wireline achieved strong ... growth, substantial decreases in landline losses and solid Internet and TV net activations, thanks to the launches of next-generation Fibe TV and Fibe Internet on our quickly expanding broadband fibre network," George Cope, CEO of BCE, said in a release.

BCE invests $860 million in fourth quarter

Brief | February 10, 2011

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