SaskTel announced that it will invest approximately $302 million of capital in Saskatchewan in 2017-18 and over $1.4 billion through the next five years.
“Our government remains focused on the future success of Saskatchewan and our residents,” said Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel and Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA. “SaskTel’s ongoing investments will ensure that the people of our province continue to have access to the innovative and reliable communications services that are so vital in today’s connected world.”
“We are committed to investing in the future of this province to make certain that its residents continue to have access to some of the most advanced networks and technologies anywhere,” said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO. “Since 2010, SaskTel has invested over $2 billion in capital to build and expand our networks across Saskatchewan to provide our customers with the products and services that allow them to connect to their world.”
The investment will ensure SaskTel customers across the province will continue to receive some of the best and most advanced wireless, television, Internet, data, and IP-based technologies and services available today.
Highlights of this year’s core Saskatchewan investment program include:
In 2017-18, SaskTel will invest $56.5 million in its Fibre to the Premises Program (FTTP).
• Bringing infiNET to Saskatchewan consumers is a $670 million 12-year program announced in 2012 which targets to have 100% of homes in the nine major centres in the province passed by 2022. In 2017-18, the FTTP program will pass over 15,000 homes with a focus of connecting 15,900 more customers to infiNET in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Weyburn, Estevan, Yorkton, and Rosthern.
• Fibre optics will allow SaskTel to deploy download speeds up to 260 Megabits per second (Mbps) initially, with the capacity to significantly increase speeds over time. Customers will be able to enjoy faster download and upload speeds, which will enhance the online experience streaming video, uploading photos or videos, or participating in real-time gaming and video chat. infiNET will also support up to seven HD-capable set-top boxes, the ability to combine faster Internet speeds with maxTV while improving the TV watching experience.
In 2017-18, SaskTel will invest $41.7 million for wireless network enhancements. This includes:
• $ 33.3 million - Long Term Evolution (LTE) enhancements - The 4G LTE network covers 99% of the population of the province and provides data speeds approximately 10 times faster than 4G allowing customers to stream HD movies, high quality video and music, share pictures and videos, game faster than ever before and download applications lightning fast.
• $3.0 million - SaskTel Select Wi-Fi expansion.
• $5.4 million - Wireless network demand and growth including $1.9 million for Long Term Evolution – Time Division Duplex (LTE-TDD) Fusion capacity enhancements.
In 2017-18, SaskTel will invest $89.1 million on several initiatives to meet wireline network growth. This includes:
• Network modernization- $10.2 million
• Access and Core Demand and Growth - $43.0 million
• Regional Ethernet Transport Improvements– $10.2 million
• Community Participation Programs and Partnerships - $1.6 million
• maxTV Growth - $15.8 million
• Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) - $8.3 million
SaskTel will also invest $114.6 million to improve customer services through new IT platforms and service enhancements. Key initiatives include:
• Enhance customer self-serve and e-commerce platforms
• Launch updated facilities management system to improve the efficiency of inventorying and assigning facilities for service delivery to satisfy customer requests to add, change, and move wireline, IP and fibre optic network services.
