Canadian telecommunications industry leader BCE (TSX:BCE) stock is an intriguing long-term investment opportunity for 2025. Imagine earning $10,100 annually for every $100,000 invested – that's the eye-popping promise BCE stock offers today with its massive 10.1% dividend yield. However, as the company weathers industry headwinds, this unprecedented yield has value investors wondering: Could this be the passive income opportunity of a lifetime?

Telecommunications services are essential to modern life, and the industry enjoys utility-like cash flows that may last decades. Given BCE's dominant fibre-fortified market position, the question deserves serious consideration.

BCE stock's jaw-dropping dividend yield

BCE's staggering dividend yield has caught the attention of income-seeking investors, promising to return a tenth of their investment annually. With such an exceptional yield, the Rule of 72 suggests investors could double their capital through dividends alone in just over seven years – even if the stock price remains flat.

Further, the company recently launched a dividend-reinvestment program that offers a 2% discount to investors who opt to reinvest dividends into more BCE shares. The discount may amplify the wealth-compounding opportunity.

That said, BCE's high dividend yield has come about following a substantial decline in the stock price, and this often signals underlying challenges.

Industry pressures and dividend sustainability

The Canadian telecom sector's intense price competition has squeezed margins, with BCE experiencing sustained wireless price compression in 2024. Elevated interest costs, dropping device sales, and disrupted fibre market dynamics due to recent regulatory changes opening up the sector to wholesale distributors are significant problems facing BCE and threatening its cash flow margins and dividend coverage.

BCE stock's free cash flow payout ratio, which exceeded 100% in 2021 and could surpass 120% in 2024, speaks to the dividend's high risk. Although the company has implemented cost-cutting measures and paused dividend growth for 2025, it's yet to be seen if BCE stock's dividend coverage could improve in the coming years – without a dividend cut.

U.S. telecommunications giant AT&T cut its dividend in 2022 when yields exceeded 10%.

But there's some hope.

BCE's fibre advantage, and the stock's long-term growth potential

BCE's fibre-first strategy represents a powerful competitive moat. These infrastructure assets, boasting a 60-year service lifespan, continue generating distributable cash flow while requiring only maintenance capital after the initial build-out. The company's bold $5.0 billion Ziply Fiber acquisition should add 1.3 million fibre locations to BCE's footprint, targeting an underpenetrated U.S. market where only 50% of properties have fibre connectivity. Even amid industry-wide price wars, BCE's fibre network has driven 5% internet revenue growth and maintained positive Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) trends, demonstrating the resilience of this strategy.

Looking ahead, BCE stock's total return potential rests on a return to solid fundamentals. The utility-like demand for telecommunications services provides stability through economic cycles, while ongoing efforts to reduce leverage through some asset sales could repair some damage to the stock price.

The company's extensive fibre network and U.S. market expansion could drive long-term growth, potentially supporting both the dividend and modest capital appreciation. However, investors should note that the high payout ratio and industry challenges suggest limited room for dividend growth in the near term.

Should you buy BCE stock today?

BCE stock offers a compelling opportunity for investors seeking outsized passive income yields, provided they understand the risks. The company's essential services, extensive infrastructure, and strategic expansion plans support long-term sustainability, but regulatory pressures and competitive challenges could impact total returns. Diversification into other dividend stocks could help dampen income and capital risks.

While BCE stock might not single-handedly set you up for life, it could serve as a valuable component of a diversified income-focused portfolio.