Skip to main content

SaskTel extends 4g service to Canoe Lake Cree First Nation and Jans Bay

SaskTel extends 4G service to Canoe Lake Cree First Nation and Jans Bay

October 15, 2015

Today SaskTel announced the launch of wireless cellular service with the turn up of a newly upgraded structure at Canoe Narrows that will serve the communities of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, Jans Bay and surrounding area. This extension of service was made possible because of the partnership and support of numerous contributors, including Canoe Lake Cree First Nation (CLCFN), Primrose Lake Economic Development Corporation and the Meadow Lake Health and Social Development Authority (MLHSDA).

This partnership is based on SaskTel's Community Participation Model, which encourages communities to raise funds to cover the shortfall when it is not economically feasible for SaskTel to finance a new cellular site alone.

"Extending SaskTel's wireless network to communities which have never had access to cellular service before is an important initiative," said Minister Responsible for SaskTel Jim Reiter. "This service will provide Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, Jans Bay and area with enhanced connectivity to the rest of the province and global world, particularly emergency services, while also further developing the economic opportunities for area residents."

"SaskTel customers experience a level of connectivity that is rare in other sparsely populated parts of the world. We are committed to connecting our rural and northern communities", said SaskTel President and CEO Ron Styles. "Our Community Participation Model makes it possible for smaller communities to have access to our world-class wireless network."

"This is a very exciting time for our communities and I am proud to say it would not be possible without the hard work and support of the residents of our communities," said Canoe Lake Cree First Nation Chief Francis X. Iron. This project has brought our communities even closer together and my special thanks goes to Mayor Tony Maurice and his council of Jans Bay and my council of Canoe Lake, SaskTel, and of course all the people in our communities for their patience."

About SaskTel
SaskTel is the leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provider in Saskatchewan, with over $1.2 billion in annual revenue and over 1.4 million customer connections including over 618,000 wireless accesses, 437,000 wireline network accesses, 258,000 Internet accesses and over 103,000 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, please contact:

Tara Tibeau, SaskTel Manager of External Relations
306.777.4548
tara.tibeau@sasktel.com

For more information about forming a community partnership with SaskTel, please contact:

Bill Beckman
Senior Director – Strategic Business Development
SaskTel
306.777.5820
bill.beckman@sasktel.com