Mr. Matt Silver reports

BELL AI FABRIC, COHERE, HYPERTEC AND BUZZ HPC ANNOUNCE LANDMARK DEAL TO ADVANCE SOVEREIGN AI IN CANADA

BCE Inc.'s Bell Canad, Cohere, Hypertec and Buzz High Performance Computing (HPC), a subsidiary of Hive Digital Technologies (Toronto Stock Exchange: HIVE) (Nasdaq: HIVE), today agreed to a major AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure deal, marking a significant step forward in the development and deployment of advanced AI workloads on sovereign Canadian infrastructure.

The collaboration brings together Bell AI Fabric's data centre and connectivity foundation, Cohere's secure enterprise-grade AI solutions and large language model capabilities, and Buzz HPC's scalable accelerated computing infrastructure, powered by Nvidia's DSX AI factory platform and built on hardware manufactured in Canada by Hypertec.

Together, the four companies will build the conditions needed to conduct the critical R&D (research and development) needed for AI models -- using Canadian infrastructure, with Canadian partners -- reinforcing Canada's digital sovereignty and economic resilience.

Today's announcement reflects the growing collaboration among Canadian technology leaders since the launch of Bell AI Fabric and the Canadian Sovereign AI Alliance. As organizations move from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment, demand is increasing for high performance infrastructure that enables Canadian AI -- supporting greater control over data, performance and security, and reinforcing the importance of Canadian-based AI capabilities.

Under the agreement, which builds on previously announced partnerships, Bell will provide data centre capacity and connectivity services from its Merritt, B.C., facility, purpose built for advanced AI workloads. Buzz HPC will deliver the AI-native cloud layer using Hypertec's Canadian-built hardware cluster and Nvidia accelerated computing to support production-grade AI workloads, while Cohere will use the platform to operate its foundation models and support secure enterprise-grade AI solutions for government and enterprise customers.

The announcement further reinforces Bell AI Fabric's role in supporting sovereign AI -- bringing together connectivity, data centres, compute, professional services and cybersecurity to create a platform for Canadian organizations and global innovators operating in Canada.

As demand for AI continues to grow, Bell AI Fabric, Cohere, Hypertec and Buzz HPC will support customers seeking a high performance Canadian AI stack with strong economics for providers and enterprises.

Quotes

"Canada has the talent and innovation to lead in AI -- what's been missing is the ambition to bring the right ingredients together. This landmark deal helps close that gap. Through our partnership, Cohere will operate its AI models in Bell AI Fabric infrastructure, enabled by the combined capabilities of Hypertec and Buzz HPC. This agreement underscores the role Bell AI Fabric is playing in helping organizations move from experimentation to production on infrastructure that is located, operated and governed in Canada."

-- Michel Richer, president, Bell AI Fabric

"For enterprises and governments, adopting AI is not just about having access to powerful models. It's about knowing where those models run, how data is protected and whether the technology can be deployed with the security and reliability their work requires. This collaboration gives Cohere another way to support customers in Canada with advanced AI that is built for real use, on infrastructure that reflects Canadian priorities."

-- Michael Pelosi, country manager, Canada, Cohere

"Advanced AI infrastructure requires highly engineered systems, deep technical talent and expertise, and the ability to deploy and support these solutions at scale. As an Nvidia OEM partner, Hypertec delivers many of the industry's most advanced AI server platforms, with the ability to optimize architectures for customers' specific AI and HPC workloads. Through this partnership, we are combining cutting-edge compute infrastructure with the deployment, integration and service capabilities required to operate next-generation AI environments reliably and efficiently."

-- Don Schlidt, president, Hypertec HPC and AI, HCM

"AI does not scale on ideas alone, it scales on data centres, specialized GPU compute, sophisticated models and operational execution. This partnership brings together a combination of capabilities that does not exist anywhere else in Canada today: Bell's national platform, Cohere's world-class enterprise AI models, Hypertec's Canadian-built GPU servers, and Buzz's AI factory expertise and sovereign AI cloud powered by Nvidia's full-stack AI factory platform. The early momentum behind this partnership has been overwhelming because it solves a real national gap: giving Canada the sovereign AI infrastructure required to turn ambition into impact. For Canadians, this means building the infrastructure to use AI responsibly, improve lives and compete globally. Canada helped invent modern AI. Now we are building the factories to power it."

-- Craig Tavares, president and chief operating officer, Buzz HPC

"Canada cannot compete in the global AI economy without the infrastructure, talent and partnerships to support it. This collaboration brings those elements together -- linking infrastructure, compute and advanced AI capabilities in a way that helps support organizations strengthen control over data and innovation. It reflects the strength of Canada's AI ecosystem and the importance of continued collaboration among innovators to ensure that economic growth, jobs, and intellectual property are developed and retained here at home. This is the kind of progress we need to strengthen Canada's position in a rapidly evolving global landscape."

-- The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

About BCE Inc.

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, leading the way in advanced fibre and wireless networks, enterprise services, and digital media. By delivering next-generation technology that leverages cloud-based and AI-driven solutions, the company is keeping customers connected, informed and entertained while enabling businesses to compete on the world stage.

Through its Green GPU initiative, Buzz combines AI innovation with sustainability, offering localized expertise and global infrastructure.

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