SaskTel has announced that they are partnering with a company and a provincial organization in order to better educate Saskatchewan on 5G innovation.

The SaskTel 5G Innovation Lab is being produced with the help of Samsung Canada and Innovation Saskatchewan.

In the release sent out by SaskTel, they say that the labs will "provide local businesses, university students, researchers, and other innovators with the tools and facilities needed to unlock the full potential of 5G technology and develop innovative solutions that will shape the future of communication and connectivity across Saskatchewan."

“There are significant economic opportunities and social benefits that advanced communications networks and technologies can deliver to people in communities across our province,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan. “These labs are a critical resource for local innovators, providing them with the means to fully leverage advanced wireless technologies and develop innovative solutions. Access to the latest high quality 5G services will play an important role in connecting our province and accelerating Saskatchewan's economic growth.”

The 5G Innovation Labs are located at the Collider co-working spaces in Saskatoon and Regina, part of the Innovation Place research and technology parks.

“Today’s announcement marks another positive step forward for connectivity and innovation in our province,” said Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “These labs will accelerate the development of wireless innovations that will support job creation and economic growth, and help Saskatchewan people benefit from the many opportunities that come from the deployment of 5G technology.”

Sasktel says that 5G Labs have become crucial for companies in Canada because they open vast amounts of data transfer, creating networks that are more secure, clean, and faster than previous technologies for companies to test products and conduct research. 

Initially launched in late 2021, SaskTel’s 5G network consists of more than 520 cell sites and covers nearly 85% of the provincial population.