REGINA – In 2007, Saskatchewan’s telephone company will bring fibre closer and closer to its customers as it invests over $118 million to maintain and upgrade its provincial network.
“Since 1987, SaskTel has invested more than $2.8 billion in its provincial network, and the company is committed to providing the people of Saskatchewan with highest quality services at the lowest possible price," said Minister Responsible for SaskTel, Deb Higgins. SaskTel is a crown corporation.
“SaskTel’s ongoing investment in its Saskatchewan network is essential if we are to provide the latest communication and entertainment services our customers are asking for,” said SaskTel president and CEO Robert Watson, in the press release.
“SaskTel will continue its efforts to bring fibre optic cable closer to customer homes and businesses, which will allow us to further enhance advanced services such as high speed Internet, Max Entertainment Services (digital TV) and voice over IP. We will also continue to improve and expand our digital cellular network throughout the province.”
Highlights of this year’s investment program include:
* Next Generation Access Infrastructure (NGAI). Initiated in 2006, NGAI is a five-year, $310 million program to offer increased bandwidth by pushing fibre optic cable closer to customer homes and businesses. In 2007, the second year of the NGAI program, SaskTel will invest $23 million to continue to increase the bandwidth of its access network.
* Evolving SaskTel’s Max Entertainment Services. Customers can watch high definition television, movies, surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail and participate in electronic commerce such as home banking or shopping all on the TV and all in one bundle over SaskTel’s network. The company will invest approximately $12 million in Max this year to meet customer demand, make ongoing enhancements and add new features such as personal video recorder service.
* CommunityNet II. This program provides high speed Internet access to a minimum of 71 communities in the province. Upon completion of the initiative, SaskTel will have invested approximately $173 million to bring a high speed Internet service to Saskatchewan residents and businesses. SaskTel will invest approximately $2 million in the CommunityNet II program in 2007.
* Digital Cellular. Coverage improvements to the SaskTel digital cellular network. By the end of 2007, SaskTel will have invested more than $130 million in its digital network, offering digital cellular service and 1xRTT functionality to approximately 95% of Saskatchewan’s population. SaskTel will invest capital of approximately $27 million in its digital cellular network this year. This includes provincial coverage improvements and expansion – $10 million – and general network improvements – $17 million.
* Voice-over-IP – SaskTel will continue to invest in voice-over-IP technology and other advanced services in 2007 – $8 million.
* Basic network growth and enhancements – $46 million.
