Project Overview

Bell AI Fabric Data Center Saskatchewan is Bell's largest-ever investment in the province. Once complete, it is described as the largest purpose-built AI data centre in Canada. The first phase is a 300 MW campus on about 160 acres of rezoned farmland in the RM of Sherwood. The first data hall is expected to enter service in the first half of 2027. 

Bell named Cerebras and CoreWeave as customers on 16 March 2026, and BCE says a significant portion of capacity can serve sovereign AI use cases where data must stay in Canada. 

On 14 September 2026, Bell and the province announced a non-binding MOU to explore up to 900 MW of additional capacity, supplied by dedicated natural gas generation outside the existing site, for a possible 1.2 GW hub. Bell also plans to base the Bell AI Fabric head office in Regina. 

The facility is intended to serve as a regional hub for AI training, inference, research, and enterprise computing, with a significant portion of its capacity reserved for sovereign AI compute so Canadian governments, researchers, and businesses can process data while keeping it within Canada. 

The first phase is expected to support at least 800 construction jobs and create at least 80 permanent operational roles, while Bell projects up to USD 12 billion in economic value for the province over time through employment, tax revenue, and wider economic activity. 

Bell AI Data Center Location

Bell Canada’s AI data centre is located in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, Saskatchewan, just south of Regina. The site is being developed near Regina’s southern edge, adjacent to existing high-capacity electrical infrastructure. Bell’s proposed expansion is on land east and south of the original data-centre site, extending south toward the Highway 1 Bypass.

Technical Specifications

Project Background

Bell's rezoning application for farmland in the RM of Sherwood was reported in early February 2026. Seven neighbouring families filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Ombudsman on 25 February. 

Premier Scott Moe and Bell CEO Mirko Bibic announced the project on 16 March 2026, alongside BCE's guidance update that raised 2026 capital intensity to about 20% and cut expected free cash flow to CAD 2.1 to 2.3 billion. 

Earthworks began on 21 April 2026, and the contractor team was announced on 4 May. On 27 August, the province released its Data Centre Framework at the Bell site. On 14 September, it announced the 900 MW expansion MOU at the Canada Investment Summit. On 1 October, officials and Bell marked construction progress, with more than 500 people on site. 

Bell AI Data Center Current Status

As of November 2026, Bell Canada’s AI data centre is under construction. Earthworks began on 21 April 2026, and structural steel is going up on all four buildings of the first phase (1 October 2026 site event). The first data hall is expected in the first half of 2027. 

The 900 MW expansion is a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced on 14 September 2026 and is still in planning and approval.

Stakeholder Details

Bell AI Data Center Cost Details

• Initial Phase: About CAD 1.7 billion of incremental capex for the 300 MW phase.
  

• Full Build-Out: More than CAD 50 billion for 1.2 GW. It is separate from the CAD 1.7 billion figure because it includes tenant compute and power generation.
  

• Economic Benefit: The province estimates about USD 12 billion of economic activity and about CAD 720 million of provincial revenue 

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the Bell AI Data Center Campus:

• Provide AI training and inference capacity: The facility will host advanced compute capacity for AI model training and inference, including services delivered through Bell AI Fabric. 
  

• Support sovereign Canadian AI compute: A significant portion of capacity is dedicated to sovereign AI compute, allowing Canadian governments, researchers, and enterprises to access AI infrastructure while keeping data in Canada. 
  

• Connect to Bell’s national fibre network: The data centre will connect to Bell’s national fibre backbone, with SaskTel as a go-to-market partner for AI products and services.
  

• Use closed-loop cooling: The project will use a closed-loop cooling system that does not draw municipal water for cooling; the technical fluid remains within the system rather than being discharged or regularly replaced. 
  

• Manage community and environmental impacts: The design includes measures such as low-noise equipment, acoustic engineering, 4-metre berms, setbacks, and potential waste-heat reuse through district-energy discussions with nearby university campuses and a local development project. 

Project Timeline

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project:

• Supports Saskatchewan’s long-term economic growth and diversification: The investment is intended to support the province’s long-term economic growth and diversification.
  

• Generates up to USD 12 billion in provincial economic value: Upon completion, the facility is expected to provide Saskatchewan an economic benefit of up to USD 12 billion. This includes short- and long-term job creation, tax revenues, and broader economic benefits.
  

• Boost employment opportunities: The project is expected to create 800 construction jobs and approximately 80 full-time jobs upon project completion. Furthermore, it could support up to 750 additional community jobs, resulting from the large data-centre deployment.
  

• Keeps AI data, research, and intellectual property in Canada: The project helps keep AI data, research, and intellectual property in Canada, under Canadian laws, while supporting domestic jobs and long-term economic resilience.
  

• Supports AI solutions for public priorities: The facility will support the development of AI solutions that could improve healthcare, expand access to education, strengthen public services, and accelerate Canadian research and innovation.
  

Conclusion

Bell Canada’s Bell AI Fabric data centre near Regina is a purpose-built AI facility designed to expand Canada’s domestic AI compute capacity. The project is expected to generate up to USD 12 billion in long-term economic value for Saskatchewan, and supports construction and full-time jobs. 

The project reflects Bell’s commitments to Canadian control, data sovereignty, local jobs and investment, environmental stewardship, and non-grid power. Its facilities use closed-loop cooling technology that requires no municipal water.

The proposed expansion would use partner-developed natural-gas generation; development would proceed in phases, subject to customer commitments, commercial agreements, permits, approvals, and relevant environmental assessments.

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