Today SaskTel announced that it will invest $331 million in capital in Saskatchewan in 2016-2017* and over the next five years over $1.4 billion. The investment will ensure SaskTel customers in Saskatchewan continue to receive some of the best communications services in the world including maxTV™, Internet, data and future IP-based services through our industry leading 4G/LTE and infiNET Networks.

“Our Government remains focused on growing the province and SaskTel’s investment in infrastructure is a testament to that commitment,” said Jim Reiter, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “Throughout SaskTel’s history they have continued to accomplish technological firsts and deliver networks and services that exceed many other areas of the country.”

“SaskTel is in the business of making it easy for people to connect to one another and to the world and our substantial investment in our core networks enables those connections,” said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO. “Staying current with our technological investments and upgrading our networks is critical in delivering world-class products and services to our customers and for ensuring the future success of the company.”

Highlights of this year’s core Saskatchewan investment program include:

• In 2016-17, SaskTel will invest $51.0 million in its Fibre to the Premises Program (FTTP).
  • Bringing infiNET to Saskatchewan consumers is a $670 million twelve-year program announced in 2012 which targets to have 100% of homes in the nine major centres in the province passed by 2022. In 2016-17, the FTTP program will pass over 16,000 homes with a focus of connecting 15,500 more customers to infiNET in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Weyburn and Estevan.
  • Fibre optics will allow SaskTel to deploy download speeds up to 260 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 will also support up to 7 HD capable set top boxes, the ability to combine faster Internet speeds with maxTV while improving the TV watching experience.

• In 2016-17, SaskTel will invest $45.9 million for wireless network enhancements. This includes:
  • $ 33.5 million - Long Term Evolution (LTE) expansion - The 4G LTE network will provide increased data speeds approximately 5 times faster than the current 4G network allowing customers to stream HD movies, high quality video and music, share pictures and videos, game faster than ever before and download applications lightning fast.
  • $3.1 million - SaskTel Select Wi-Fi deployment which by the end of 2016-17 will have 2,380 hotspots free to SaskTel customers in the province.
  • $9.3 million - Wireless network demand and growth including $1.0 million for LTE-TDD Fusion capacity enhancements.

• In 2016-17, SaskTel will invest $91.6 million on a number of initiatives to meet wireline network growth. Key initiatives include:
  • Network modernization- $14.9 million
  • Access and Core Demand and Growth - $42.7 million
  • Rural Ethernet Transport Improvements– $12.6 million
  • Community Participation Programs and Partnerships - $8.1 million
  • maxTV Growth - $9.5 million
  • Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) - $3.8 million

• In 2016-17, SaskTel will invest $19.6 million in expanding network capabilities
  • Network convergence - $2.5 million
  • Switch upgrades and network intelligence improvements - $17.1 million

• SaskTel will also invest $123.0 million to improve customer services through new IT platforms and service enhancements
  • Key initiatives include the implementation of a customer self-serve platform and an updated facilities management systems to inventory and assign facilities for service delivery to satisfy customer requests to add, change and move wireline, IP and fibre optic network services.
  • Completion of the a new Tier III Data Centre in Saskatoon

*Capital spending is for the fiscal year 2016-2017 – April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017.

About SaskTel

SaskTel is the leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provider in Saskatchewan, with over $1.2 billion in annual revenue and approximately 1.4 million customer connections including over 614,000 wireless accesses, 404,000 wireline network accesses, 266,000 Internet accesses and 107,000 maxTV™ subscribers. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries offer a wide range of ICT products and services including competitive voice, data and Internet services, wireless data services, maxTV services, data centre services, cloud-based services, security monitoring services, advertising services, and international software and consulting services. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

For media inquiries only, please contact:

Michelle Englot, SaskTel Director External Communications
306.777.4476
michelle.englot@sasktel.com