SaskTel to bring DSL service to another 50 rural communities

SaskTel is investing $1.45 million to bring broadband DSL to 50 new locations in Saskatchewan by the end of next year as part of its $55.4 million, seven-year program to improve broadband availability in rural areas.

As outlined during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) 2013 Annual Convention in March, the service provider will install new fiber and associated equipment to stay apace of growth of both its wireline- and wireless-based voice, video and data services.

Don McMorris, Minister Responsible for SaskTel, said in a release that extending broadband to more rural areas will make it more attractive for people, particularly business owners who want to live outside of the large cities but need a faster connection to the Internet to conduct their daily activities.  

"Rural Saskatchewan is experiencing unprecedented growth and prosperity and with that comes opportunity," he said. "By providing these communities with high speed Internet, our government is opening up doors for entrepreneurs that want to live outside of our major centers but still need access to how business is done in the world today."

In addition to these 50 new communities, it is upgrading speeds in over 200 DSL communities this year. To date, SaskTel offers DSL service to 416 communities and first nations.

For more:
- see the release

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