REGINA — SaskTel announced today the first phase of its $100-million Rural Fibre Initiative is more than 95% complete.
This means the vast majority of households and businesses in the Saskatchewan communities of Balgonie, Biggar, Langham and Pilot Butte can now connect to SaskTel’s infiNET service, which is powered by the Crown corporation’s fibre-optic broadband network and delivers Internet speeds reaching close to a gigabit per second, according to a press release.
“Delivering extremely fast internet speeds, infiNET service allows SaskTel customers to take advantage of the latest digital tools and technologies to socialize, learn, access healthcare and government services, and pursue business opportunities online,” the release reads.
“The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes how critical broadband has become to the success of our people, our communities, and the province as a whole,” said Don Morgan, the provincial minister responsible for SaskTel, in the release.
“Thanks to SaskTel’s Rural Fibre Initiative, thousands of families and businesses will soon gain access to cutting edge broadband infrastructure that will allow them to connect to the world like never before and ensure that hometowns across the province continue to thrive and grow,” Morgan said.
Originally announced in December 2020, and expanded in June 2021, SaskTel’s Rural Fibre Initiative is a multi-phase program to bring infiNET service to more than 60,000 residents and businesses spread across 45 rural Saskatchewan communities by the end of 2023.
“We’re committed to delivering the high quality and reliable communications services our customers need to compete and succeed in the modern world,” said Doug Burnett, SaskTel president and CEO. “Already the largest fibre optic broadband network in the province, our infiNET service will grow to reach over 60 communities by the end of 2023.”
The $100-million Rural Fibre Initiative is part of SaskTel’s commitment to invest more than $1.5 billion of capital throughout Saskatchewan over the next five years, the release explains.
In addition to Balgonie, Biggar, Langham and Pilot Butte, the following communities are to receive infiNET service as a result of the Rural Fibre Initiative:
- Phase 2: Kindersley, Meadow Lake and Rosetown. Construction has begun in Kindersley and will soon start in Meadow Lake and Rosetown, according to the press release.
- Phase 3: Canora, Carlyle, Esterhazy, Fort Qu’Appelle, Hudson Bay, Indian Head, Kamsack, La Ronge, Lumsden, Maple Creek, Moosomin, Shaunavon, Watrous and Wynyard. SaskTel plans to begin construction in a number of these communities in 2022, the release says.
- Phase 4: Assiniboia, Buffalo Narrows, Caronport, Carrot River, Dalmeny, Davidson, Dundurn, Foam Lake, Gravelbourg, Gull Lake, Île-à-la-Crosse, Kipling, La Loche, Lanigan, Macklin, Osler, Outlook, Oxbow, Preeceville, Regina Beach (including Buena Vista and Kinookimaw), Rocanville, Shellbrook, Unity and Wadena. SaskTel says it plans to start construction in these communities in 2023.
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Photo provided by SaskTel.
