BCE Nexxia, Toronto, will provide the mall tenants with private wide area networks and Internet connections. The system benefits include high-speed connections, up to 10 Mbs, from individual retailers to their out-of-mall contacts, including banks, customers and home offices. Some of the smaller retailers will be able to move from dial-up credit card machines to using the high-speed connection for faster transactions. Moreover, the new infrastructure will enable Cadillac Fairview to install multimedia kiosks and Internet shopping services throughout its malls. BCE will offer assistance to the retailers within the malls in developing applications that take advantage of the network capabilities.
The system will be able to use the existing copper wiring in malls and only require the installation of a point of presence server and a router connection to local Internet providers.
"As a landlord we are committed to helping our tenants increase sales and lower operating costs, and the BCE Nexxia high speed network will enable us to meet this obligation," Cadillac Fairview senior vice president Ron Peddicord said told SCTNewswire. "Most national retailers have tried to tap into this technology, but the cost of high speed broadband connectivity has been prohibitive.
"We did some focus groups to see what the appetite was and the retailers were very excited about it," Peddicord said.
Under the agreement, Cadillac Fairview will be bringing Internet services to its tenants starting with the Toronto Eaton Centre, Fairview Mall (Toronto), Fairview Pointe Claire (Montréal), Market Mall (Calgary) and Pacific Centre (Vancouver). All 46 malls will be wired within the next 12 to 18 months.