On July 27, SaskTel announced that it is investing $10 million into installing  Samsung Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment to improve the 4G LTE data capacity of its wireless network serving 30 rural communities. 

SaskTel stated it has already begun work to upgrade the towers and anticipates the majority of the upgrades will be finished by the end of March 2023. 

Towers in the Humboldt area seeing these upgrades include Bruno and Quill Lake. 

“This investment by SaskTel will ensure residents in these rural communities continue to enjoy high quality and reliable communication services so that they may take full advantage of the economic, social, and educational opportunities the modern world has to offer,” said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel.

The upgrades will increase 4G availability in the selected communities by over 100%, states SaskTel in a media release. The added capacity will ensure customers can fully utilize their smartphones without being slowed down by network congestion. 

“This investment by SaskTel will ensure residents in these rural communities continue to enjoy high quality and reliable communication services so that they may take full advantage of the economic, social, and educational opportunities the modern world has to offer,” said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel.

In the last few years, SaskTel has completed various projects to enhance its wireless network in rural Saskatchewan. 

SaskTel stated in a release, “The most notable of these initiatives being Wireless Saskatchewan, a joint program between SaskTel and the Government of Saskatchewan which saw the Crown corporation invest over $107 million to expand its High Speed Fusion Internet network to 34 new towers and improve wireless connectivity throughout the province with the construction of over 190 cell towers in provincial parks, along highways, and rural communities and areas.”

The network upgrades are a result of SaskTel’s commitment to invest more than $1.5 billion of capital across Saskatchewan over the next five years, stated the company. 

“These investments will ensure Saskatchewan families and businesses continue to have access to some of the best communication and entertainment services available anywhere in the world,” stated the release.