Released on February 24, 1997
Carol Teichrob, minister responsible for SaskTel, today announcedSaskTel will dramatically increase telephone service for Saskatchewan's
First Nations communities with a $25 million dollar investment.
The First Nations Local Access program will double telephone service to
households in these communities from 36 per cent to 72 per cent over
the next three to five years. This will result in Saskatchewan having
one of the highest served First Nations population in Canada. There
are about 150 First Nations communities across Saskatchewan with 9,900
homes and a population of 48,000. The program is a partnership between
SaskTel and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.
"Entering into a partnership of this magnitude will benefit not only
SaskTel but more importantly the First Nation community in
Saskatchewan," Teichrob said. "Along with SaskTel's long-standing
social commitment to providing universal, affordable services, the
company is also looking to strengthen and enhance its relationship with
Saskatchewan's First Nations communities."
The First Nations Local Access Program will allow SaskTel to expand its
high-quality network and offer a full-line of innovative products and
services to the First Nations community. This will improve the quality
of life for residents in First Nations areas.
Eugene Arcand, vice-chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations, said he's pleased with SaskTel's initiative.
"The local access program and the recent Saskatchewan Indian Institute
of Technologies (SIIT) Call Centre agreement with SaskTel are
precedents unmatched by others in the communications business in this
country," Vice-Chief Arcand said.
The Mosquito First Nation is currently participating in a pilot project
of the local access program. Implementation plans for the entire
program will be developed following the results of this pilot project.
Specific details will be announced once the plans are determined.
A SaskTel Customer Services, Aboriginal segment team will work closely
with the First Nations communities to ensure their needs are met and to
develop future partnerships in the areas of business, education,
employment and training.
SaskTel is the leading full-service communications company in
Saskatchewan, providing voice, data, Internet, text and messaging
services over a fully-digital network, as well as cellular, paging and
Fleetnet 800 service through its SaskTel Mobility division.
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For more information, contact:
Darcee MacFarlane
SaskTel
Corporate Affairs
Regina
Phone: (306) 777-4441