SaskTel delivers faster High Speed Internet service to 42 communities

August 4, 2010

As part of the Rural Infrastructure Program, SaskTel High Speed Internet customers in 42 more communities are receiving higher download speeds after a recent upgrade. SaskTel has increased the maximum download speed in those communities from 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) to 5 Mbps. Customers began receiving the higher speeds automatically and High Speed Internet charges will not increase as a result of this upgrade.

This upgrade is part of a larger initiative to upgrade more than 200 High Speed Internet Basic communities from 1.5 Mbps to 5 Mbps by the end of 2010. A total of 201 communities have been upgraded so far this year. SaskTel will make announcements regarding additional upgrade locations as they are completed.

“Saskatchewan residents continue to benefit from SaskTel’s ongoing investment in its advanced network,” said Bill Boyd, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “This upgrade will deliver an enhanced internet experience to SaskTel customers in communities across the province.”

“SaskTel offers high speed Internet service to approximately 99 percent of the Saskatchewan population,” said Robert Watson, SaskTel President and CEO. “Now we’re pleased to offer improved service in rural communities across the province to give our customers even better High Speed Internet access.”

About SaskTel

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with $1.138 billion in annual revenue and over 1.3 million customer connections including over 510,000 wireless accesses, 555,000 wireline network accesses, 216,000 internet accesses and 76,000 Max™ (TV) subscribers.  SaskTel offers a wide range of communications products and services including competitive voice, data, internet, entertainment, national security, messaging, cellular, wireless data and directory services. In addition, SaskTel International offers software solutions and project consulting in countries around the world.  In 2008, SaskTel contributed over $610 million to the Saskatchewan economy through dollars spent with Saskatchewan-based suppliers and sponsorships to non-profit organizations.  SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 5,000 employees.

For media inquiries only, please contact:

Michelle Englot, SaskTel Media Relations
Phone: (306) 777-4476
E-mail: michelle.englot@sasktel.com

DSL High Speed Internet Communities to be Upgraded to 5 Mbps in 2010