SaskTel last week launched its Rural Fibre Initiative, aimed at providing improved broadband services to approximately 30,000 households and businesses in more than 20 rural Saskatchewan communities over the next four years. The Crown corporation says it will invest more than CAN$50 million on the multi-phase effort.
The Rural Fibre Initiative’s first phase will target the communities of Balgonie, Biggar, Langham, and Pilot Butte. SaskTel it will be able to offer its infiNET service, which supports transmission rates of up to 300 Mbps, to the majority of residents and businesses in these communities by March 2022. The service provider expects to provide details of the second phase “later in 2021.”
“Expanding access to leading-edge broadband technology is critical in preparing Saskatchewan for its future,” said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “As so many of us have adapted to online learning and new ways of working, we have become ever more dependent on high-speed internet services. This investment by SaskTel will help set the stage for Saskatchewan’s future and ensure that our province is ready for the post-COVID world with the most advanced communications infrastructure available.”
“As Saskatchewan’s homegrown communications leader, SaskTel is firmly committed to connecting the people of Saskatchewan,” said Doug Burnett, SaskTel president and CEO. “Through our Rural Fibre Initiative, residents and business owners in many of our smaller communities can continue to confidently build their future knowing they’ll soon have access to the best communications infrastructure available.”