SaskTel, Prairie Mobile Communications and Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) Resource Development today announced the launch of Red Eagle Cellular as a new Authorized SaskTel cellular dealer.  A joint venture amongst SaskTel, Prairie Mobile Communication and the MLTC Resource Development, the partners will work together with the intent of continued expansion to other dealer locations on both First Nations urban reserves and select northern reserves.  Red Eagle Cellular will open a location in early April at the Grasswoods PetroCanada in Saskatoon.

“SaskTel has a large network of authorized dealers across Saskatchewan and we are pleased to extend our reach to First Nations communities,” said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO.  “Red Eagle Cellular will be owned and operated by First Nations people at the Grasswoods PetroCanada, and we will evaluate expansion to additional locations so we can continue to best serve our First Nations customers.”

“Prairie Mobile is very excited to partner with MLTC Resource Development to create a First Nations SaskTel Authorized Dealer,” said Kimberley Bishop, President of Prairie Mobile Communications. “We thank SaskTel and MLTC Resource Development for their support and commitment to this venture and look very forward to the success of this initiative in First Nations communities across Saskatchewan.”

“On behalf of our owners, the nine First Nations of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, we are pleased to launch this exciting new joint venture between three strong partners,” said Ben Voss, President and CEO of MLTC Resource Development.  “Our successful track record in business has always relied upon strong partnerships.  First Nations in Saskatchewan can now work directly with a proudly-owned First Nations company to access products and services for an important part of their everyday lives.  We would like to thank SaskTel and Prairie Mobile Communications and look forward to making this partnership a success.”

About SaskTel

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with $1.2 billion in annual revenue and over 1.4 million customer connections including over 607,000 wireless accesses, 492,000 wireline network accesses, 250,000 internet accesses and 100,000 maxTV subscribers.  SaskTel offers a wide range of communications products and services including competitive voice, data, internet, entertainment, security monitoring, messaging, cellular, wireless data and directory services. In addition, SaskTel International offers software solutions and project consulting in countries around the world.  SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). 

About Prairie Mobile

Prairie Mobile Communications is SaskTel’s largest privately owned wireless communications retailer in Saskatchewan.  Prairie Mobile Communications is a family owned and managed business and has been serving the communications needs of the Prairie Province’s for more than 45 years with 19 locations and 175 employees.

About Meadow Lake Tribal Council

Meadow Lake Tribal Council has been doing business in Saskatchewan for over 25 years and has become one of Saskatchewan’s largest private equity investment managers, returning tens of millions in dividends to shareholder First Nations over the years. These resources fuel economic development, social programs, employment and infrastructure in nine northern First Nations communities. In 2009, the Council created Meadow Lake Tribal Council Resource Development (RDI) with the mandate to pursue business initiatives and improve the wealth of shareholder communities.  Red Eagle Cellular will be the 9th subsidiary company in RDI’s portfolio, which together employ over 2400 people in Saskatchewan.  

For media inquiries only, please contact:

Michelle Englot,

SaskTel Director of External Communications

306-777-4476

michelle.englot@sasktel.com