SaskTel
 | |
| Crown corporation | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | June 12, 1908 |
| Headquarters |
2121 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3Y2 |
Key people |
Hon. Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel Ron Styles, President and CEO Grant Kook, Chair of the Board of Directors |
| Revenue |
 CAD$ 1.3 billion [1] |
Number of employees | 4,100 |
| Website | www.sasktel.com |
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation, commonly known as SaskTel, is a full service communications provider in Saskatchewan. A crown corporation, SaskTel has $1.2 billion in annual revenue and over 1.4 million customer connections including over 607,000 wireless accesses, 492,000 wireline network accesses, 250,000 internet accesses and 100,000 maxTV subscribers. SaskTel offers a wide range of communications products and services including competitive voice, data, internet, entertainment, security monitoring, messaging, cellular, wireless data and directory services. In addition, SaskTel International offers software solutions and project consulting in countries around the world.
SaskTel and its wholly owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs).
Services
- Wireless Service (CDMA/UMTS/HSPA+/LTE)
- SaskTel Select Wi-Fi is SaskTel's Wi-Fi Services. Available for SaskTel Wireless 4G and 4G LTE customers
- Wireless Internet (Over Satellite, in alliance and provided by Xplornet)
- CDMA network will shut down July 5, 2017.[2]
- Sasktel plans to launch voice over LTE (VoLTE) in mid-2017, after it rolls out LTE to 99% of the Saskatchwan population by April 2017.[3] Consequently, all voice calls take place via its HSPA+ network.
- As of July 2016, Sasktel's HSPA coverage reaches most of the southern half of Saskatchewan and its LTE network exists in larger cities; there is no LTE coverage between larger cities.
- High Speed Internet & infiNET is SaskTel's Internet and Data Services (Internet over VDSL or Optical fibre)
- SaskTel maxTV (Digital TV) is SaskTel's Cable TV Services, including High-definition television and PVR
- CraveTV is Canada's new subscription on-demand video streaming service. Available for SaskTel maxTV subscribers
- MySask411 is Saskatchewan’s original online directories. It has the most accurate local information available.
- MySask411.com and MySask411 App
- SecurTek is SaskTel's Security Monitoring Services for Home and Business Security
- sasktel.net Email Services
- Local Access and Enhanced Services
- Long Distance Phone Services (over POTS or Optical fibre)
- Voice Mail Services
- Telephone and Equipment Rental
- Conferencing Services
- International Consulting, Provisioning, and Software Solutions
- Web Hosting and Website Design
- Print and Online Directories
For Business
- Communication & Collaboration
- Managed Network Services
- Data Centre Services
- Internet & Networks
- Wireless
- Security
History
SaskTel, known from 1947 to the 1980s as Saskatchewan Government Telephones, has its origin in the Department of Railways, Telegraphs and Telephones, which was established on June 12, 1908. On October 1, 1909, the Department expanded its system by purchasing the Bell Telephone Company, the Saskatchewan Telephone Company, and the Wapella-Harris Telephone Company. The newly acquired facilities consisted of 18 telephone exchanges, 53 long-distance offices, and 492 pole miles of long-distance lines. Among the telephone exchanges purchased were those in Estevan, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, and Regina. In 1911, the D expanded further with the purchases of Saltcoats District Telephone Company, the North-Western Telephone Company (Saskatoon), and the Swift Current System. On December 1, 1912, Yorkton was added to the provincial telephone system with the purchase of the North West Electric Company.
SaskTel International, a wholly owned subsidiary of SaskTel, was established in 1986 to market advanced telecommunications technologies, particularly fibre optic systems, to clients around the world.[4] SaskTel International has conducted business in over 40 countries.[5]
Technological and service advances
- In 1984, SaskTel completed the world's longest commercial fibre optic system, 3,268 kilometres.[6]
- In 1988, it developed the first fibre/coaxial hybrid network with pick-and-play Video-On-Demand.[6]
- In 1994, it completed the installation and commissioning of telecommunications and control systems for the English Channel project.[7]
- In 2002, it was the first to commercially deploy Internet Protocol (IP) video over digital subscriber line (DSL).[8]
- In 2006, it was the first North American company to offer HDTV channels over an IPTV service[9]
- In 2009, SaskTel began construction of a new $172 million Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) / High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) wireless network, which would give Sasktel a 3G+ Network and hold 98% of the population of Saskatchewan under its coverage.
- In 2010, SaskTel, activated their new UMTS/HSPA+ network, now referred to as 4G.[10]
- In 2012, SaskTel announced infiNET. SaskTel’s new Fibre Optic Network capable of download speeds of up to 200 Mbit/s. infiNET is the official name for SaskTel’s Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Program, a 7-year $670 million investment to deploy fibre directly to homes and upgrade the broadband network in the 9 largest urban centers in the province - Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Weyburn, Estevan, Swift Current, Yorkton, North Battleford and Prince Albert.[11]
- In 2013, SaskTel activated their LTE cellular network in Saskatoon, Regina, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Estevan, North Battleford, Yorkton and Swift Current, now referred to as 4G LTE.[12]
- In 2014, SaskTel received its third consecutive J.D. Power Award for Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Canadian Full-Service Wireless Carriers.
- In 2015, SaskTel announced the launch of the new Machine to Machine (M2M) Management Centre, an online portal that allows business customers to control and monitor the operational status of their wireless M2M devices while gaining valuable analytics about usage.[13]
References
- ↑ "SaskTel reports 2014 net income of $76.4 million".
- ↑ SaskTel to shut down CDMA network in July 2017
- ↑ SaskTel investing $11.8 million to expand LTE across Saskatchewan
- ↑ "SaskTel International Profile, Industry Canada".
- ↑ "Corporate Profile".
- 1 2 "SaskTel Fibre Optics, Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "Telecommunications, Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan". Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "Lucent Technologies Introduces First Commercial IP Video Over DSL Solution, Business Net". Business Wire. 2002-04-10. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ "Internet HDTV unveiled, Regina Leader-Post". Retrieved 2006-11-15.
- ↑ "Saskatchewan's Largest and Fastest 3G+ Wireless Network is Here!". Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ↑ "SaskTel announced infiNET".
- ↑ "SaskTel Announces 2013 Saskatchewan Infrastructure Investment and the Commercial Launch of 4G LTE in Regina and Saskatoon". (SaskTel activated their LTE cellular network). Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ↑ "SaskTel announced M2M".