An agricultural advocacy group is calling on farmers and Saskatchewan residents in rural areas and First Nations land to complete their internet speed test which will then be used to help advocate for better services.
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) in partnership with the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) launched the speed test project to allow residents to test their speeds against their service providers promises.
The organization says the data collected will establish a baseline for internet service levels throughout the province. They hope the research will help inform federal government funding which will then be sent to areas where it is needed most.
The speed test will give users detailed information on their download and upload speeds. A map will then show users where speeds meet the CRTC’s service standards with blue areas meeting the standards and red areas indicated lower speeds.
“Not only does it give us a really compelling picture of internet speed across the province, but it also gives people an exact picture of their own internet,” says Jeremy Welter, Chair of the APAS Rural Connectivity Task Force. “They can compare their speed to what their contract promises and let their service provider know if they’re not getting the speeds they’re paying for.”
The APAS Internet Speed Test is the first such partnership between CIRA and a Saskatchewan organization. The APAS Rural Connectivity Task Force started in September to focus on rural internet and cellular service in the province. The task force will release its findings in early 2021.