SaskTel has announced it will invest an additional $80 million in its Rural Fibre Initiative to expand SaskTel InfiNET service to another 61 communities across the province.

This investment will bring advanced fibre optic broadband connectivity to more than 22,000 additional homes and businesses further ensuring Saskatchewan remains one of the most well-connected provinces in the country.

“When SaskTel completes this work, it will have invested more than $1 billion to bring its fibre optic broadband network to 225 communities and nearly 85 per cent of all homes and businesses across Saskatchewan,” said Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “The work being done at SaskTel, under the guidance of our government, will ensure that communities across the province have access to the communications infrastructure they need to grow and thrive for many years to come.”

Some southeast communities will also receive fibre as part of phase 7 of their Rural Fibre initiative, including Redvers, Maryfield, Wapella, and more.

“At SaskTel, we truly understand how important a fast and reliable internet connection has become in the modern world, especially for those who live and work in rural communities,” said Charlene Gavel, SaskTel President and CEO. “As Saskatchewan’s homegrown communications leader, we’re pleased to increase our investment in the Rural Fibre Initiative so that we may bring the unparalleled speed and reliability of our infiNET network to more of our customers who live and work in rural communities across the province.”

Originally announced in 2020, the Rural Fibre Initiative is a multi-phase program that will see SaskTel invest $280 million to expand its infiNET network to nearly 200 communities across the province.

SaskTel anticipates all communities included in the Rural Fibre Initiative will be fibre-ready by the end of 2027.

SaskTel phase 7