FTTH reaches Quebec City via Bell Canada

Bell Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), says that citizens of Québec City can now benefit from the carrier’s CAN$225 million FTTH investment with the launch of Bell Fibe service in the city. The Canadian carrier says the FTTH deployment is the largest its kind in Canada and will support broadband TV, Internet, and home phone services.

"The people of Québec City now have access to the most advanced network technology available in Québec or anywhere in Canada," said Martine Turcotte, Bell's vice chair, Québec. "Bell is committed to leading investment and innovation in new broadband services, bringing the best technology the world has to offer here to our Québec home. With Fibe, Bell is proud to deliver to our capital city the fastest Internet speeds, the best television experience and free long distance calling to any number in Québec."

The FTTH-enabled Bell Fibe Internet service will offer download speeds of up to 175 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 30 Mbps. Bell Fibe TV will include access to HDTV programming, video on demand, direct access to social media applications such as Facebook and Twitter, and a Whole Home PVR capability. Fibe Home Phone includes no-charge long-distance calls to any phone number in the province. Competitors restrict free long distance only to certain numbers or groups, Bell Canada asserts.

The Fibe services are now available in the boroughs of Québec, Beauport, Sillery, Ste-Foy, Cap-Rouge, Charlesbourg, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Loretteville, Sainte-Thérèse-de-Lisieux, and Montmorency. Bell Canada plans to extend FTTH service to Lévis in the near future.