AlarmForce Industries, one of the largest security and monitoring providers in Canada, with 100,000 lines, will be bought by Canadian tele BCE for $CAD184 million.
BCE, formerly Bell Canada Enterprises, is a provider of broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communication services from Bell Canada, Bell Aliant and Bell MTS, Canada’s leading multimedia company with assets in television, radio, out-of-home and digital media.
BCE currently provides residential and business customers in Atlantic Canada and Manitoba with security and monitoring services from Bell Aliant NextGen Home Security and AAA Security, a Bell MTS company. The telecom says combining the assets and experience of AlarmForce with its own strength in networks, customer service and distribution will enable it to quickly expand into the connected home sector in Ontario and Québec.
Alarmforce provides a range of services, including intrusion and fire/life-safety alarms; home automation services including lighting, climate and lock control systems; and in-home and mobile medical alert systems.
“Bell is excited to welcome the AlarmForce team as we pursue the significant growth and innovation opportunities represented by the connected home. It’s a natural next step for Bell as one of Canada’s most trusted brands in residential services,” said George Cope, president and CEO of BCE and Bell Canada.
“Leveraging Bell’s network and service leadership and our place in millions of Canadian homes, we look forward to growing our nascent position in security and automation services to ensure Bell residential customers are at the leading edge of connected home innovation.”♦