Bell Canada struck a deal to sell a minority stake in its newly formed tower business to investment group La Caisse for CAD2.5 billion ($1.8 billion), cash set to be used to cut debt and invest in growth areas.

The operator’s parent company BCE noted the investor would take a 49.9% stake in the TowerCo business with Bell retaining the remainder.

TowerCo is set to take ownership of more than 5,000 sites across Canada, making it the country’s largest dedicated tower company. It will lease capacity back to Bell, which retains full ownership and control of spectrum, active network equipment and owned land.

The transaction expected to close in Q1 2027 subject to regulatory approval.

BCE explained the sale would help strengthen its balance sheet and allow it to invest in growth areas, including AI-related solutions. Last year, the company set a target of reducing its net debt leverage ratio to 3.5 times by the end of 2027.

BCE and Bell Canada president and CEO Mirko Bibic said the transaction would “unlock the significant value embedded in our infrastructure assets” while allowing the company to continue operating its wireless network.

He added the company aims “to strengthen our balance sheet, invest in growth and deliver total returns to shareholders”.

La Caisse EVP Emmanuel Jaclot noted making telecoms tower infrastructure available to multiple service providers could help “more people access the connectivity they rely on every day”.

The post Bell Canada cashes in on towers with $1.8B stake sale appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Microsoft is offering employees across several parts of its global operations the opportunity to take a voluntary exit deal, as it seeks to contain costs while ramping up investment in AI.

The offer being made is time-limited and includes financial support and career planning resources. Reuters reported the programme is targeting around 60,000 employees.

Microsoft’s FY26 annual report showed it had 223,000 full-time employees worldwide as of 30 June, putting the potential pool of eligible staff at more than a quarter of its global workforce.

In a statement, Microsoft chief people officer Amy Coleman explained the programme is available to eligible employees in Canada, India, the UK and the US at level 70 and below of its employee hierarchy.

Participation is limited to selected business units with eligibility varying according to “each business’s priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs”.

A source told Reuters the offer covers teams including Copilot, AI experiences, finance, human resources, Xbox and Windows + Devices. Marketing, commercial business and security are apparently excluded.

“This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside the company a new choice to make that transition now with support,” Coleman said, adding “these are a few of the ways we’re trying to meet different business needs” and that “we’ll learn from it”.

Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to around 9,000 US employees earlier this year and announced 4,800 job cuts in July, as it restructured its Xbox gaming business and planned to divest four studios.

The latest initiative comes as Microsoft commits substantial sums to AI infrastructure, including data centres and chips. The company forecast capital expenditure of $175 billion for calendar year 2026, drawing scrutiny over whether returns will justify the scale of spending.

The post Microsoft eyes staff cuts under voluntary exit programme appeared first on Mobile World Live.