New collaboration provides unified sovereign infrastructure, cloud applications and Canadian-hosted AI in a single environment.
MONTRÉAL, QC–Bell Canada and SAP Canada announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly deliver a comprehensive Canadian‑operated cloud solution designed to meet high standards of data protection and strengthen Canada’s digital sovereignty.
The partnership will combine Bell AI Fabric’s secure national network, compute and data centre footprint with SAP Sovereign Cloud On-Site (SCOS) solution and Canadian‑based operations team. Together, the companies aim to deliver a trusted, fully Canadian-isolated cloud alternative for the public sector and regulated industries that require strict control over sensitive information and mission-critical workloads.
The solution is intended to help ensure sensitive government, citizen and organizational data remain within Canadian borders, shielded from extra-territorial access. Delivered by security-credentialed personnel in specialized facilities, the platform aims to support compliance with data residency and sovereignty requirements while helping customers to modernize applications, adopt cloud services and drive innovation and AI adoption.
SAP Canada is also integrating Cohere’s leading enterprise-grade AI platform into SAP Sovereign Cloud to deliver a unique integrated sovereign offering. Along with Bell AI Fabric, Cohere empowers Canadian organizations to harness the power of AI while ensuring their sensitive information, AI models and agents stay firmly within their control.
John Watson
“Building a sovereign digital foundation is essential for Canada’s economic competitiveness. This partnership brings together Bell AI Fabric with SAP’s sovereign cloud platform, aiming to provide Canadian governments and regulated industries a secure, locally operated solution that protects sensitive data, accelerates AI adoption and helps Canada lead in the AI economy.”- John Watson, President, Bell Business Markets, Bell Cyber, AI Fabric and Ateko.
“Canadian organizations–particularly those in the public sector and regulated industries–are seeking greater assurances around data residency, technical sovereignty, and operational control. SAP Sovereign Cloud On-Site, operated entirely within Canada by Canadian personnel, is designed to meet these exact needs. Partnering with Bell allows us to jointly deliver a secure, sovereign cloud alternative that empowers customers to manage their most sensitive workloads.”— Cathy Tough, Country Manager, SAP Canada
“Cohere is looking forward to collaborating with SAP and Bell on this important sovereign cloud and infrastructure initiative. By integrating our cutting-edge enterprise AI solutions within SAP’s secure environment, we will remove barriers to adoption for enterprises and public sector organizations, while ensuring sensitive data remains protected.”— Francois Chadwick, CFO, Cohere
Bell is Canada’s largest communications company, providing advanced broadband Internet, wireless, TV, media and business communication services. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca. Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell Let’s Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country.
As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP (NYSE: SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience.
