• Bell and Saskatchewan have signed a non-binding memorandum covering up to 900MW of additional AI infrastructure
  • Combined with Bell's 300MW Sherwood project, the plan could reach about 1.2GW, with new phases tied to customer commitments and partner-developed generation

The fact

Bell Canada and the Saskatchewan government signed a non-binding memorandum on 14 September to explore the phased development of up to 900MW of additional Bell AI Fabric capacity in the province. Combined with the 300MW Sherwood project announced in March, the expansion could create a path to about 1.2GW of planned capacity.

Bell says the additional capacity would rely on natural-gas generation developed by partners. New phases would proceed as customer commitments are secured and remain subject to commercial agreements, permits, approvals and relevant environmental assessments. The proposed facilities would use closed-loop cooling that requires no municipal water. At full buildout, Bell estimates total capital associated with the potential Saskatchewan programme, including data centres, tenant computing equipment and related power generation, could exceed C$50 billion. That is an estimate, not committed financing.

The original 300MW Sherwood project is further along. Bell expects its data halls to enter service progressively, with the first stage targeted for the first half of 2027. SaskTel is due to provide fibre connectivity.

The assessment

Bell now has two Saskatchewan development stages, not a single 1.2GW project moving on one timetable. Sherwood has a stated target for first service, while the additional 900MW remains under a non-binding memorandum and still needs customers, generation arrangements and approvals before individual phases can move ahead.

For the additional capacity, power development sits inside the delivery sequence. Bell says partner-developed natural-gas generation would support the new phases, so data-hall construction and the generation serving each phase need compatible schedules. A customer commitment alone would not make capacity ready if the associated power project still lacks agreements, approvals or construction progress.

For BTW readers, 1.2GW is a potential end-state rather than committed capacity with a common completion date. Binding generation agreements and customer commitments will identify which parts of the additional 900MW are moving from a memorandum towards buildable projects.

What to watch

Watch for Bell to name generation partners, sign binding agreements, secure environmental and other approvals, and announce customers for individual expansion phases. Separately, progress towards first service at Sherwood in the first half of 2027 will provide the nearest test of Bell's ability to deliver its existing 300MW Saskatchewan project.