Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) yesterday 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 ISPs throughout the province. In addition to its existing 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. It added that the takeover 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 ISPs in the province. Dan McKeen, Bell's Vice Chair, Western Canada, said: 'Bell welcomes the Axia team as we move forward together in executing our new multi-year SuperNet partnership with the Government of Alberta.'

Launched in 2005, SuperNet 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 eight Metis settlements have SuperNet connectivity within or adjacent to their communities.