PROFILES IN ACHIEVEMENT
SaskTel is expanding its infiNET™ service across the province.
SaskTel is the leading information and communications technology provider in Saskatchewan, delivering various wireline and wireless communications services, including landline telephone, mobile networks and broadband internet.
The Company
As of 2020, SaskTel manages 1.35 million customer connections thanks to roughly 3,600 staff, many of which boast diverse engineering backgrounds.
The Achievement
In 2019-20, SaskTel invested $75 million in its fibre to the x (FTTx) program. FTTx is a key component in SaskTel’s strategy to provide the high bandwidth customers demand.
Bringing SaskTel infiNET™ service to Saskatchewan customers is a $825-million program that aims to have 100 per cent of homes passed in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Yorkton, North Battleford, Estevan, Warman, Weyburn, Martensville, Melfort, Humboldt, White City, Melville, Nipawin, Tisdale, Rosthern and Emerald Park by the end of 2022.
In order to meet their 2019-20 targets, SaskTel invested:
- $45.8 million for Fibre to the Premises Program (FTTP) in the major cities.
- $19.2 million for the FTTP outside of the nine majors.
- $10 million for Fibre to the Business (FTTB). This portion of the program aimed to pass 4,000 businesses in 2019-20.
In 2019-20, the FTTP passed approximately 22,000 homes and connected more than 16,000 additional customers to infiNET service in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Weyburn, Estevan, Yorkton, North Battleford, Rosthern, Martensville, Warman, Emerald Park, White City and Melfort.
Fibre optics will allow SaskTel to deploy download speeds up to 300 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 service will also support up to seven high-definition-capable set top boxes, the ability to combine faster Internet speeds with maxTV, while improving the TV-watching experience.