Released on April 29, 2011
SaskTel has expanded its 4G wireless network to 16 more locations across the province of Saskatchewan.
"Construction of the 4G network is a significant development for SaskTel and its customers in Saskatchewan," Minister responsible for SaskTel Bill Boyd said. "SaskTel 4G wireless coverage is already available to 96 per cent of the population. By the end of 2011 SaskTel's wireless coverage will be available to 98 per cent of the population."
"Our 4G wireless network delivers increased bandwidth, greater international roaming and a wider selection of wireless devices," SaskTel President and CEO Ron Styles said. "4G is the new industry standard and will enable SaskTel to make a smooth transition to future generations of wireless technology."
The 16 tower locations, along with 4G coverage details, are:
- Beauval village and rural sites: provides coverage to the village of Beauval and the surrounding area including Highways 155 and 165.
- Buffalo Narrows village and rural sites: provide coverage to the village of Buffalo Narrows and the surrounding area including Highway 155
- Canora rural: provides coverage to the Canora area including Highways 5 and 9.
- Central Butte: provides coverage to the town of Central Butte and the surrounding area including Highways 19 and 42.
- Esterhazy Rural: provides coverage to the Esterhazy area including Highways 22 and 80.
- Good Spirit Lake: provides coverage to Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park.
- Ile à la Crosse village and rural sites: provide coverage to the village of Ile à la Crosse and the surrounding area including Highway 155.
- Invermay: provides coverage to the village of Invermay and the surrounding area including Highway 5 southeast of Wadena.
- La Loche: provides coverage to the village of La Loche and the surrounding area including Highways 155 and 955.
- Pinehouse: provides coverage to the village of Pinehouse and the surrounding area.
- Raymore: provides coverage to the town of Raymore and the surrounding area including highways 6 and 15.
- Waldron: provides coverage to the area southeast of Melville including Highways 9 and 22.
- Warmley: provides coverage to the area northeast of Stoughton and west of Moose Mountain Provincial Park.
The 4G network provides increased bandwidth with download speeds approximately four times faster than existing speeds (up to 21 megabits per second, and up to 42 megabits per second in Regina and Saskatoon after an upgrade to be complete by this summer). It is also compatible with approximately 80 per cent of all networks across the world and international roaming customers will be able to use their SaskTel 4G device on 4G networks anywhere.
The current SaskTel 4G device line-up includes:
- Apple iPhone 4
- BlackBerry® TorchTM 9800
- BlackBerry® BoldTM 9780
- BlackBerry® CurveTM 9300
- BlackBerry® PearlTM 9100
- HTC Incredible STM
- LG Optimus QuantumTM
- LG Rumour PlusTM
- LG FlickTM
- Nokia C6
- Nokia 7230
- Nokia 6350
- Samsung Galaxy S VibrantTM
- Samsung Gravity Touch
- Samsung Gravity® 3
- Samsung RugbyTM II
- Novatel MC998D Mobile Internet Stick
- Novatel Mi-Fi 2372 Mobile Hotspot
SaskTel plans to support the existing CDMA digital network for the foreseeable future to ensure that all wireless customers continue to enjoy a full selection of wireless services that best suit their needs. Customers can now choose from a wide range of devices for both the existing CDMA network and the new 4G network.
About SaskTel
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with $1.1 billion in annual revenue and more than 1.4 million customer connections including more than 568,000 wireless accesses, 528,000 wireline network accesses, 230,000 internet accesses and 85,000 MaxTM (TV) subscribers. SaskTel offers a wide range of communications products and services including competitive voice, data, Internet, entertainment, national security, messaging, cellular, wireless data and directory services. In addition, SaskTel International offers software solutions and project consulting in countries around the world. In 2010, SaskTel contributed over $678 million to the Saskatchewan economy through dollars spent with Saskatchewan-based suppliers and sponsorships to non-profit organizations. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,800 employees. Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.
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For more information, contact:
Andy Tate
SaskTel
Regina
Phone: 306-777-4548
Email: andy.tate@sasktel.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-1226