Meridiam successfully reaches financial close on Alberta Broadband Networks

Meridiam has reached financial close for its Alberta Broadband Networks project (“A-Net”) that will bring fibre connectivity to over 41,000 premises in the greater Edmonton region. As part of a C$219 million total investment, Meridiam secured one of the first non-recourse project finance facilities for a revenue-risk, greenfield fibre development in North America, further demonstrating Meridiam’s differentiated approach and innovation in delivering essential infrastructure projects.

As with other Meridiam fibre projects, A-Net will deliver modern digital infrastructure to nearly 92,000 residents in key communities in greater Edmonton, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG #8: improved digital connectivity, flexible access, high availability and quality of telecommunication services for residents,
• SDG #9: modern and resilient urban infrastructure

Through a phased approach, Meridiam anticipates that residents in its first two partner communities of Vermilion and Beaumont will be able to sign up for service by December 2022.

“As a mission-driven company, we are dedicated to ensuring that A-Net contributes real, tangible impacts for its communities and works toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said Nicolas Rubio, Meridiam Chief Executive Officer, Americas. “Fibre is cross-generational, future-proof, and a leading way to help shrink the digital divide and foster more economic, educational, and entrepreneurial opportunities in our communities.”

Meridiam is currently building comprehensive fibre optic networks in the United States and Canada and developing similar projects in Germany, Romania and Austria. Through a proven track record of performance and extensive industry expertise, With US $18 billion in assets under management globally, Meridiam has established itself as a partner of choice to the public sector in North America, where it manages 19 infrastructure assets, including noteworthy projects such as the Waterloo Tramway, the Montreal University Hospital Research Center, Northeast Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton, LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B in New York, the Long Beach Courthouse in California, among others.

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