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SaskTel deploys AWS-1 Spectrum to increase LTE capacity and speed

SaskTel deploys AWS-1 Spectrum to increase LTE capacity and speed

October 19, 2015

SaskTel today announced the successful deployment of a block of prime AWS-1 spectrum that will significantly increase the capacity and speed of its 4G LTE network in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current, North Battleford, Estevan, & Weyburn. This network enhancement is a result of the recent spectrum purchase from WIND Mobile that SaskTel announced in July 2015.

The new spectrum deployed will allow for an increase of 4G LTE speeds from the current maximum speed of up to 110 Mbps to 150 Mbps. Going from SaskTel's previous 15 MHz wide LTE carrier to the current 20 MHz represents the maximum bandwidth possible on a LTE carrier.

"SaskTel is always looking for opportunities to provide better service to their customers," said Jim Reiter, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. "This latest investment shows that SaskTel remains committed to not only providing the highest grade technology available, but continually upgrading and enhancing it to ensure it continues to meet customer needs."

"This is the first of two prime AWS-1 spectrum blocks SaskTel was able to purchase," said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO. "Our 4G LTE network in the 9 major urban centres already operate on the AWS-1 spectrum band, meaning that with this latest deployment we can instantly deliver significantly more bandwidth and faster speeds in those locations. SaskTel is also currently working on a comprehensive strategy to further deploy LTE to more rural locations and anticipates further details will be announced shortly."

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,maxTVservices, 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 more information, please contact:
Tara Tibeau, SaskTel Manager of External Communications
Phone: 306.777.4548
E-mail: tara.tibeau@sasktel.com