Bell awarded Canada's fastest mobile network by PCMag for third consecutive year

Winner of PCMag's Fastest Mobile Networks Canada test; includes Bell ranking fastest 5G network in the country
Scored fastest in 22 of the 31 areas tested, including Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton
Bell continues to expand coverage and availability of its 5G+ and 5G service across the country

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 20, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today announced its wireless network has been awarded fastest in Canada for the third year in a row in PCMag's 2022 Fastest Mobile Networks Canada report, the annual study of mobile network performance across the country. The report also ranks Bell's 5G network as fastest in the country, scoring fastest in 22 of the 31 cities and rural areas tested.

"Bell wins our prize for the third consecutive year largely because of its network improvements in southern Ontario coupled with the strength of its 5G+ network overall. The carrier leads in speed in 22 of the 31 cities we tested, including Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto—and in our population-weighted rankings, those cities matter a lot."

- Wendy Sheehan Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, PCMag

"I am so proud that Bell is recognized as Canada's fastest mobile network for the third year in a row, and I'm especially proud of the Bell team that puts their energy and effort into ensuring that Canadians have the best network experience. We know that our customers depend on us to deliver a network with great coverage, reliability and some of the fastest speeds in the world. We're now taking our 5G service to new heights with 5G+, and we'll continue to advance our network to connect more Canadians every day."

- Claire Gillies, EVP Marketing and President Consumer, Bell

In its 10th annual Fastest Mobile Networks Canada test, PCMag's wireless technology experts drove across Canada, covering 31 cities and rural areas to test the network speed and coverage of Canada's major wireless brands. PCMag's exhaustive analysis took place in August and September and ranked providers based on a weighted average of download speeds, upload speeds and latency.

Expanding 5G+ and 5G networks
Earlier this summer, Bell announced the availability of 5G+ service in southern Ontario. Today, Bell is expanding its service to more communities across the province. Available today in Hamilton, Markham, Middlesex Centre, North Dumfries, Puslinch and Thames Centre, Bell 5G+ is expected to be faster and more responsive, allowing for a superior mobile experience. Bell will continue to expand 5G+ across the country and is on track to offer coverage to approximately 40% of the Canadian population by the end of 2022.

Bell also continues to expand its 5G service, with availability in all 10 Canadian provinces. Today, Bell is expanding to 84 more communities in Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Québec.

For more details about 5G+ and 5G, including coverage, pricing, availability and compatible devices, please visit Bell.ca/network.

Quick facts

Bell awarded Canada's fastest mobile network by PCMag for the third consecutive year
Bell is Canada's fastest 5G network, ranks fastest in 22 of the 31 cities and rural areas tested
Scored fastest download speeds among the country's major wireless providers
Bell 5G+ expands to more communities across Ontario and is on track to cover approximately 40% of the Canadian population by the end of 2022
Bell's award-winning 5G network now available in all 10 Canadian provinces

About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet, media and business communication services throughout the country. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities with a commitment to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. This includes the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Media inquiries
Jessica Benzinger, jessica.benzinger@bell.ca
@Bell_News

Investor inquiries
Richard Bengian, richard.bengian@bell.ca

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to our network deployment plans and anticipated capital expenditures as well as the benefits expected to result therefrom, our business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities, and other statements that are not historical facts. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our network deployment plans and anticipated capital expenditures and the benefits expected to result therefrom are subject to risks and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that our network deployment plans will be completed, that our anticipated capital expenditures will be made or that the benefits expected to result therefrom will be realized. The completion of our network deployment plans assumes, among others, the availability of sufficient equipment, labour and capital. However, there can be no certainty that the required equipment, labour and sources of capital will be available with the result that our actual network deployments and capital expenditures could materially differ from current expectations. For additional information on assumptions and risks underlying certain of our forward-looking statements made in this news release, please consult BCE Inc.'s (BCE) 2021 Annual MD&A dated March 3, 2022, BCE's 2022 First Quarter MD&A dated May 4, 2022, BCE's 2022 Second Quarter MD&A dated August 3, 2022 and BCE's news release dated August 4, 2022 announcing its financial results for the second quarter of 2022, filed by BCE with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities (available at Sedar.com) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (available at SEC.gov). These documents are also available at BCE.ca.

SOURCE Bell Canada