REGINA – SaskTel is deploying 11 portable cellular towers in an effort to address congestion on its 4G network.
The portable towers, also referred to as COWS (Cellular On Wheels), will improve 4G coverage and capacity in the areas where they’re deployed by reducing the load on existing towers until new permanent tower sites can be constructed at or near those locations.
After acquiring the necessary approvals for the COWS (pictured below), SaskTel prepares the mobile tower sites by providing power and fibre optic cable connections then towing the towers on trailers to the locations. The towers provide 4G service using the 1900 MHz band and typically cover approximately 1,000 metres in diameter around the site, depending upon the surrounding topography.
“These mobile cell towers will deliver immediate improvements in coverage and capacity for customers in the areas where they are deployed,” said SaskTel president and CEO Ron Styles, in a statement. “Once we have permanent towers in place in these locations, the mobile units will be available for other areas, and also for large events or emergency situations where extra capacity and coverage is needed.”
The first tower is now in service in the Coventry Place area of Regina, and the next three towers are tentatively scheduled to be in service by the first week of December in the Preston Crossing area of Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Airport area, and the Victoria East area of Regina. Seven more towers will be deployed in Regina, Saskatoon and other communities in the coming weeks.
