Released on November 26, 2008
$129 Million Infrastructure Plan Will Also Bring Cell Coverage Up To 98 Per Cent
Premier Brad Wall said Saskatchewan will have 100 per cent high speed Internet coverage within three years as the result of a major investment announced today.
The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $90 million to SaskTel for $129 million in rural service improvement that includes improving high speed Internet, expanding CommunityNet and building 50 new cell phone towers.
"One hundred per cent high speed Internet coverage is our own 21st century version of the last spike in the Canadian Pacific Railway and an important investment in rural Saskatchewan that will sustain and solidify economic growth," Wall said. "Every business owner, every child in school, every senior wanting to improve their education will soon have access to high speed regardless of where they live in our province. These are the good things that can happen when you have an investment policy that puts Saskatchewan first."
"With this investment in Saskatchewan, SaskTel will provide residents with access to one of the best communications networks in the world," Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said.
Cheveldayoff also outlined details of this new plan, which includes:
- Upgrading the underlying rural backbone infrastructure to create an enhanced transport network to provide basic high speed Internet access (5 Mpbs) to 187 communities - $30 million.
- Expanding the functionality of the existing CommunityNet network of 256 towns by doubling the speeds to institutions at the same rates and adding approximately 90 new communities to the CommunityNet network - $41.5 million.
- Expansion of "last mile" rural broadband infrastructure using fixed wireless and satellite technology to achieve 100 per cent coverage - $9.4 million.
- Improving cellular service by adding approximately 50 new digital cellular sites across the province, resulting in cell phone coverage for 98 per cent of the population - $48 million.
"A major objective of SaskTel is to provide rural residents of Saskatchewan with technologically advanced communications services," SaskTel president and CEO Robert Watson said. "This government funding will allow us to continue to lead the way in Canada in delivering high speed Internet to rural and northern communities."
SaskTel will also be seeking funding from the Federal Government's Building Canada plan. In addition, SaskTel will be seeking grants from Industry and Northern Affairs to undertake a $15.3 million capital program to expand cellular and high speed Internet to 29 First Nation communities.
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For more information, contact:
Michelle Englot
SaskTel
Regina
Phone: 306-777-4476
Email: michelle.englot@sasktel.sk.ca
Cell: 306-539-0691