SaskTel continues to build the best 4G network Saskatchewan wide
Press Release –
SaskTel today announced it has completed another 18 4G and 4G LTE wireless network infrastructure enhancement projects across the province in the months of May, June and July to address the ever-growing customer demand for network coverage and capacity.
“SaskTel has a long record in pursuing innovative and cutting edge solutions when it comes to expanding our 4G network across the province,” said Kevin Doherty, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “We are committed to building and powering the largest, fastest and most complete wireless network in the province.”
SaskTel is using a variety of infrastructure options to enhance wireless service based on usage patterns and demands. In addition to traditional towers being constructed across the province, SaskTel is also increasing capacity and coverage by deploying other options when traditional towers are not feasible due to space or other limitations. These include installing carrier antennas to increase coverage strength inside of buildings, streetlights, rooftops, wooden and stealth poles, as well as installing new cellular sites such as towers or COWS (cellular on wheels) in various locations.
The communities that received 4G and 4G LTE network enhancements in May, June and July 2014, including the type of enhancement completed are as follows:
- Regina: Erected a new monopole tower in Whitmore Park to increase 4G/4G LTE coverage and capacity.
- Saskatoon: Erected a new stealth pole at Saskatoon Civic Centre to increase 4G/4G LTE coverage and capacity.
- Belle Plain: Erected a mobile cellular site called a COW (Cellular on Wheels) to increase coverage and capacity.
- Moose Jaw: Erected a new stealth pole at Windsor Park to increase 4G/4G LTE coverage and capacity.
- Waskesiu Lake: Erected a new stealth pole to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Zehner: Erected a new tower to increase 4G/4G LTE coverage and capacity.
- Regina Beach: Added 2 carriers to the existing tower to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Batoche (Domremy): Erected a new tower to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Maple Creek: Converted the site from an Omni antenna to a 3 sector site and added 2 carriers to the existing tower to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Lashburn: Converted the site from an Omni antenna to a 3 sector site and added 2 carriers to the existing tower to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Craven: Added an additional carrier to the existing tower to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Carnduff: Converted the site from an Omni antenna to a 3 sector site and added 1 carrier to the existing tower to increase 4G coverage and capacity.
- Grandora: Erected a new tower to increase 4G/4G LTE coverage and capacity.
The addition of sectors and carriers increase network capacity by adding more radio frequency channels. Each additional carrier added to a site will increase the network capacity at that site by an incremental amount. Adding a second carrier approximately doubles network capacity. Going from two to three additional carriers increases network capacity by approximately 50 per cent above that and going from three to four additional carriers increases capacity by a further 33 per cent. Increasing sectors adds an antenna which further improves coverage and capacity.
The 4G network provides increased bandwidth with download speeds of up to 21 Mbps per second. With 4G LTE, customers will see data speeds approximately five times faster (approximately 100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload) than the 4G network meaning customers can stream music, share pictures and videos, download apps and game faster than ever before.
About SaskTel
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with $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 Max™ (TV) 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). Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.
For media inquiries only, please contact:
Tara Tibeau, SaskTel Manager of External Communications
306.777.4548
tara.tibeau@sasktel.com
