Cadillac Fairview, Bell Nexxia to Network Retailers

Cadillac Fairview and Bell Nexxia formed an agreement this week to provide 46 malls in Canada with next generation Internet Protocol virtual private network (IP VPN) services.

The four year deal represents an investment of over $30 million in infrastructure by Cadillac Fairview.

The Bell Nexxia IP VPN solution will give retailers in Cadillac Fairview’s Canadian centers the competitive advantages resulting from access to cost effective high speed Internet connections, total in-mall connectivity and increased network security.

“Most national retailers have tried to tap into this technology, but the cost of high speed broadband connectivity has been prohibitive,” said Ron Peddicord, senior vice-president, Cadillac Fairview. “Now, because Cadillac Fairview will underwrite the solution setup, they will be able to access their stores via a high-speed network at an affordable price.”

Bell Nexxia, in cooperation with their technology partner RYCOM, will provide the mall tenants with
virtual private wide area networks (WAN) for points of sale and high-speed
connectivity up to 10 Mbps for all communications needs.

The network will enable seamless connectivity of voice and data, and
facilitate emerging e-commerce initiatives such as electronic catalogs,
e-customer services and electronic loyalty programs, the companies said.

Cadillac Fairview will be able to develop and implement multimedia
applications such as electronic kiosks, ABMs, and shopper Internet services.

Under the agreement, Cadillac Fairview will bring IP VPN services to
their mall tenants across Canada. Starting with the Toronto Eaton Center,
Fairview Mall (Toronto), Fairview Pointe Claire (Montreal), Market Mall
(Calgary) and Pacific Centre (Vancouver), the new services will eventually
become available in other major malls in Canada and the United States.