The demand for data was clearly evident at the offices of SaskTel Thursday.
A room crowded with customers and interested individuals were on hand for SaskTel's information session on its introduction of the 4G LTE wireless network to North Battleford.
They were wanting to know how the 4G LTE service could help their businesses or make their use of wireless devices a little more convenient, and also find out more about the emerging market demands that SaskTel is responding to.
The 4G LTE is an upgrade from the current 4G network service across the province. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, with the technology touted as the next evolution in wireless technology.
New towers and a new network were built by SaskTel in cities across the province to accommodate the 4G LTE coverage.
Flora Horvath, SaskTel marketing manager for wireless communications, noted the benefits customers will see with the new network.
"One of the benefits is that obviously people can do more on their device so it's going to be less buffering, they're going to have access to download apps on a much more rapid basis."
She described LTE as like a "speed boost -- as soon as you get onto an LTE tower which is a different technology, you can exponentially reach even higher speed than on a 4G network."
According to SaskTel representatives at the meeting, under the current 4G network customers could experience download speeds of about five Mbps, but on the 4G LTE speeds go up even more, by about 10-15 Mbps or faster.
That speed is what is anticipated once customers have fully switched over. SaskTel representatives say that early users of the 4G LTE in North Battleford could possibly experience up to 30 Mbps of speed, at least in the early going, due to the fact that not many customers have converted to the new network. They expect that to come down as more subscribe.
4G LTE service started expanding outside of Regina and Saskatoon beginning in May of this year, with the Battlefords seeing the service arrive Aug. 28.
In addition to those cities, service is available in Estevan, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Weyburn and Yorkton. The new network is also available in communities surrounding Regina and Saskatoon.
For 4G LTE customers who venture outside these areas, service will automatically switch to the SaskTel 4G wireless network that covers over 98 per cent of Saskatchewan.
The changes are being done in response to customers' demands for more and more data, according to SaskTel, mirroring trends seen across North America.
The demand for "voice" services has been leveling out, but SaskTel marketing manager for wireless network management Grant Garner told the audience growth for data has been exponential.
Voice had been the "bread and butter of our rate plans", he said, but "now it's data and it will be more so in the future."
Garner attributed the growth to new smart phones and data-rich devices dominating the market, and the growth in applications for those devices such as streaming video and other bandwidth-intensive apps. Garner also noted demand for data is coming from all market segments.
The growth and demand for data was one reason SaskTel officials went before North Battleford city council earlier this year to ask for and get approval for two new cellular antennas in the city.
Several North Battleford and Battleford municipal officials were in attendance at the Thursday presentation, including North Battleford mayor Ian Hamilton.
Just last week, SaskTel announced North Battleford was one of several Saskatchewan communities to receive 4G network enhancements, with three carrier additions in the city. There was also a carrier addition to an existing tower in Battleford to increase capacity.
In a news release upon the introduction of 4G LTE in North Battleford, minister for SaskTel Don McMorris acknowledged the demand for enhanced service among customers.
"Saskatchewan residents are technically savvy and they are demanding lightening speed so they can quickly and reliably use their wireless devices to communicate for both business and personal use," said McMorris in a statement Aug. 28.
"4G LTE gives SaskTel customers access to the best mobile Internet experience in the province."
