bce stock is in focus as BCE will spend $1. 7-billion to build a 300-megawatt artificial-intelligence data centre outside Regina, with construction set to begin this spring and staged capacity coming online in the first half of next year, BCE said. The facility will sit in the rural municipality of Sherwood and will be rented by two main U. S. tenants, with power supplied by Saskatchewan Power Corp. The move is presented by BCE as a growth diversification aimed at amplifying its revenue profile.
Expanding details
BCE said the project will total $1. 7-billion in capital, with $1. 3-billion expected to be spent this year and a funding mix of debt and cash to cover the cost, the company stated. BCE noted tenants will make prepayments for equipment that will offset early costs. Construction is scheduled to start this spring with initial capacity coming online in the first half of next year, and BCE projects the campus will be the largest data centre in Canada once complete.
The facility is planned as a 300-megawatt campus intended to serve sovereign AI compute and will draw its electricity from Saskatchewan Power Corp. BCE estimates the fully built site will support at least 80 full-time positions and create at least 800 trades roles during construction. BCE projects annual revenue of $500-million from the site, with about $400-million in EBITDA and $250-million in annual free cash flow when fully operational.
Market watchers tracking bce stock will note BCE also outlined leverage targets tied to the investment: the company is aiming for a net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio near 3. 5 times by the end of 2027 and roughly three times by 2030, and said annual EBITDA from the centre would support about $1. 4-billion in borrowing without altering that leverage profile.
Bce Stock: Reactions and context
Mirko Bibic, Chief Executive Officer, BCE, said, “At run rate, this is a leverage-neutral investment and viewed by the rating agencies as credit positive, given how it amplifies our growth profile. ” Bibic also said BCE expects revenue, earnings and free cash flow to catch up within three years of the investment ramp. That quote frames BCE’s corporate view of the project’s impact on the company’s balance sheet and growth trajectory.
Saskatchewan Power Corp. provides the electricity for the campus, and SaskPower figures show the province’s power mix is weighted toward fossil fuels, with natural gas and coal forming a substantial portion of generation. BCE directed questions about electricity and emissions to Saskatchewan Power Corp. and said the company will use a closed-loop cooling system to limit environmental impact.
Observers following bce stock will weigh the economic promises—job creation in construction and operations and projected cash flows—against the province’s current power mix and the upfront borrowing BCE plans to undertake.
What’s next
BCE said construction will begin this spring with staged capacity arriving in the first half of next year; the company expects tenant prepayments to offset first-year costs and projects the investment will be leverage neutral at run rate. Stakeholders and investors monitoring bce stock should watch for construction milestones, tenant commitments, and any further details from Saskatchewan Power Corp. on the supply and emissions profile as the project moves toward operation. Time-sensitive targets and updates will be tracked against BCE’s stated timeline and leverage objectives as the build progresses. (3: 00 p. m. ET, March 16, 2026)
