SaskTel says that through a plan to double investment in rural Fibre Optic internet, 75 per cent of people across the province will have access by end of 2023.
The new announcement comes as Sasktel previously announced funding for higher-speed SaskTel infiNET service projects totalling $50 million. An investment in Lloydminster was announced in April 2021.Â
With this new investment, it will bring total funding to $100 million and allow 24 more projects across Saskatchewan to begin ahead of schedule.
The projects will roll out in four phases for forty communities. Three phases have been directly attached to locations. The rollout works this way:
-  Phase 1 – Balgonie, Biggar, Langham and Pilot Butte. Construction has begun in all four communities, and SaskTel anticipates that the majority of homes and businesses will be fibre ready by the end of March 2022.
- Phase 2 – Kindersley, Meadow Lake and Rosetown. Construction will begin in all three communities later this year.
- Phase 3 – Canora, Carlyle, Esterhazy, Fort Qu’Appelle, Hudson Bay, Indian Head, Kamsack, La Ronge, Lumsden, Maple Creek, Moosomin, Shaunavon, Watrous and Wynyard.  SaskTel plans to begin construction in these communities in 2022.
- Phase 4 – SaskTel will spend $50 million to bring fibre to 24 additional communities. A formal announcement will be made when the remaining communities to be included in this phase are finalized.
By the end, over 30,000 more people and businesses will have new access to the Fibre Optic Internet, bringing the total amount of people across the province with access to 75 per cent of the population.
Minister Responsible for Sasktel Don Morgan says recent times have put the need for connectivity in focus, whether that be for work or school and this will ready the province for a post-COVID recovery.
Also during that time, Sasktel will undertake a pilot program to see if any Internet service provider or contractor could deliver fibre broadband services in any communities which are not currently included in this initiative.