Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Bell did not buy Q9 Networks alone. In June 2012, BCE Inc. (Bell) and three investment partners agreed to acquire all of Q9 for C$1.1 billion; the investor group completed the transaction in October 2012. Bell’s stated aim was to pair Q9’s data-centre services with Bell’s network. BCE later acquired the Q9 equity it did not already own in 2016, a separate transaction.
What the 2012 deal involved
On June 2, 2012, the investor group announced an agreement to acquire 100% of Q9 Networks for C$1.1 billion, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. The amount was the reported purchase price for Q9, not Bell’s individual contribution.
The group comprised BCE Inc. (Bell), Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners, and Madison Dearborn Partners. The transaction was completed in October 2012.
Who contributed equity, and what changed by closing?
The announcements reported different equity contributions at the proposal and completion stages. The sources reviewed do not explain the difference.
#1 Best Overall
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
| Announcement | Investment partners | Bell | Other financing detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2012 proposed deal | C$420 million from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners, and Madison Dearborn Partners | C$180 million | The announcement said committed Q9 debt financing would fund part of the acquisition. |
| October 17, 2012 completion | C$430 million from the three investment partners | C$185 million | The completion release reported these equity figures; it did not reconcile them with the June proposal. |
These figures describe reported equity contributions, not separate purchase prices. The C$1.1 billion purchase price should not be read as money Bell paid by itself.
What Q9 did at the time
At the October 2012 closing, Q9 was described as a provider of hosting, co-location, and cloud-computing services. The completion announcement said it operated 12 data centres in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Those are descriptions of Q9 at the time of the deal, not claims about its present-day footprint or operations.
Rank #2
- 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝟕 - Designed with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, featuring Multi-Link Operation (MLO), Multi-RUs, and 4K-QAM. Achieve optimized performance on latest WiFi 7 laptops and devices, like the iPhone 16 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
- 𝟔-𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟔.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐡 - Achieve full speeds of up to 5764 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band with 6 streams. Enjoy seamless 4K/8K streaming, AR/VR gaming, and incredibly fast downloads/uploads.
- 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Get up to 2,400 sq. ft. max coverage for up to 90 devices at a time. 6x high performance antennas and Beamforming technology, ensures reliable connections for remote workers, gamers, students, and more.
- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN port and 3x 1 Gbps LAN ports offer high-speed data transmissions.³ Integrate with a multi-gig modem for gigplus internet.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
The parties said Q9 would remain a stand-alone entity under its existing executives after the acquisition.
Why Bell wanted Q9
Bell presented the acquisition as a way to expand its hosting and cloud-based business by combining Q9’s data-centre services with Bell’s broadband network. Tom Little, then president of Bell Business Markets, called Q9 an “ideal partner” for that strategy in Bell’s June 2012 announcement. That was Bell’s promotional rationale; the transaction announcements do not establish whether the expected benefits were later achieved or quantify their results.
Rank #3
- Dual-band Wi-Fi with 5 GHz speeds up to 867 Mbps and 2.4 GHz speeds up to 300 Mbps, delivering 1200 Mbps of total bandwidth¹. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
- Supports IGMP Proxy/Snooping, Bridge and Tag VLAN to optimize IPTV streaming
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
- Advanced Security with WPA3 - The latest Wi-Fi security protocol, WPA3, brings new capabilities to improve cybersecurity in personal networks
How the 2012 purchase differs from the 2016 transaction
The 2012 acquisition was made by a four-party investor group. It should not be confused with BCE’s later acquisition of the Q9 equity it did not already own, which a BCE filing dates to October 3, 2016. The filing establishes that later ownership step; it does not make Bell the sole buyer in 2012.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Wi-Fi - Next-gen Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 whole home mesh system to eliminate weak Wi-Fi for good(2×2/HE160 2402 Mbps plus 2×2 574 Mbps)
- Whole Home WiFi Coverage - Covers up to 6500 square feet with seamless high-performance Wi-Fi 6 and eliminate dead zones and buffering. Better than traditional WiFi booster and Range Extenders
- Connect More Devices - Deco X55(3-pack) is strong enough to connect up to 150 devices with strong and reliable Wi-Fi
- Our Cybersecurity Commitment - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement
- More Gigabit Ports - Each Deco X55 has 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports(6 in total for a 2-pack) and supports Wired Ethernet Backhaul for better speeds. Any of them can work as a Wi-Fi Router
Sources
- Bell announcement of the proposed acquisition, June 2, 2012
- Investor-group completion announcement, October 17, 2012
- Completion announcement’s reported equity contributions, October 17, 2012
- BCE filing on its October 3, 2016 acquisition of the remaining Q9 equity
- Tom Little’s statement in Bell’s June 2, 2012 announcement
- Completion announcement’s description of Q9 and its operating plan
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
