| SaskTel investing 220 Million in its network |
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June 22, 2009 SaskTel will invest $220 million in its Saskatchewan network in 2009, which includes $42.4 million from the Government of Saskatchewan for Year One of a three-year Rural Infrastructure Program. Residential and business customers in communities across the province can expect improved and expanded SaskTel services as a result of this latest major capital investment. “With this major network investment, SaskTel is continuing its commitment to Saskatchewan,” said Ken Cheveldayoff, Crown corporations minister. “As SaskTel moves into its second century, residential and business customers can look forward to improved and expanded service in 2009 and beyond.” Highlights of this year’s investment program include: • In 2009, SaskTel will invest $48.5 million to begin construction of a new $172-million universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS)/high-speed packet access (HSPA) wireless network. The first phase of the new network build—which will provide coverage in the major Saskatchewan centres—is expected to be available early 2010. Full coverage, similar to today’s digital cellular coverage, is anticipated to be available by the end of 2010. • SaskTel will be shutting down its analogue network mid-2010. • In 2009, SaskTel will begin the Rural Infrastructure Program to deliver 100% high-speed Internet coverage and improved wireless coverage across the province within three years. • As part of this program, SaskTel will provide digital cellular service to 55 locations by the end of 2011. • In 2009, SaskTel will invest $37.6 million to expand and improve its existing wireless network, including the addition of 12 out of the 55 new digital cellular sites across the province. • This year, SaskTel will invest $43 million to expand rural broadband. This includes upgrading the rural backbone infrastructure to provide an enhanced transport network that will deliver basic high-speed Internet (5 Mpbs) to approximately 90 out of the 187 communities by the end of 2009. • Under the Rural Infrastructure Program, SaskTel has recently concluded an agreement with Barrett Xplore Inc., which operates Xplornet Internet Services. The agreement calls on Barrett Xplore to deliver SaskTel satellite high-speed Internet powered by Xplornet to rural areas that do not have access to SaskTel’s other high-speed Internet services. • As part of the Rural Infrastructure Program, SaskTel is seeking private sector partners to make proposals to provide high-speed Internet to 13 towns out of the 66 new towns that are becoming part of CommunityNet, as well as other unserved areas of the province. SaskTel is exploring partnership options that would allow private sector companies to provide residential high-speed Internet in the community in return for a subsidy. • Initiated in 2006, Next Generation Access Infrastructure (NGAI) is a five-year, $310-million program to offer increased bandwidth by providing fiber optic cable closer to customer homes and businesses. In 2009, the third year of the NGAI program, SaskTel will invest approximately $11.9 million to continue to increase the bandwidth of SaskTel’s access network. • Basic network growth and enhancements amount to about $61.4 million. CLICK HERE for SaskTel. |
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