SaskTel to invest $465.9 million in 2025/26 to deliver next-generation connectivity to residents across Saskatchewan

Today, SaskTel announced that it will invest approximately $465.9 million of capital across Saskatchewan in 2025/26. These investments will ensure Saskatchewan families and businesses have access to the cutting-edge communications technologies and networks they need to grow and thrive in the digital world.

“Our government is delivering for Saskatchewan by investing in the communications technologies and infrastructure that people rely on for work, education, healthcare, and staying connected,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “SaskTel’s investment in expanding its cutting-edge 5G wireless and fibre optic broadband networks will create jobs, drive economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for residents across our province.”

“For nearly 120 years, SaskTel has invested in and constructed the networks that connect the people of our province to each other and their world,” said Charlene Gavel, SaskTel President and CEO. “Over half the investments we’ll be making in 2025/26 will be used to expand our fibre optic broadband and 5G networks to residents living in smaller communities, as well as rural and Northern parts of the province. Through these investments we’re doing our part to empower and enrich the lives of our customers all across Saskatchewan.”

Highlights of SaskTel’s 2025/26 investment program include:

5G deployment – $111.5 million

Already the largest 5G network in Saskatchewan, SaskTel 5G delivers hyper-fast data speeds that will increase over time to continue meeting customer’s evolving needs for years to come. Furthermore, as the network matures it will support technological advancements in remote healthcare, education, agriculture, resource management, and many other industries and sectors that are critical to the economic prosperity and standard of living across Saskatchewan.

In 2025/26, SaskTel plans to construct 5 new cell sites and upgrade more than 170 existing cell sites serving rural, resort, and First Nations communities as well as major highway corridors and other rural areas to 5G technology.

Fibre-to-the-x (FTTx) program – $90.5 million

SaskTel infiNETTM service delivers incredible internet speeds and unparalleled reliability to households and businesses in 100 communities spread across the province. Additionally, as a fibre-based network, SaskTel can expand the capacity of the infiNET network to accommodate the evolving bandwidth needs of customers.

In 2025/26, SaskTel will continue to invest in its Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and Fibre-to-the-Business (FTTB) initiatives, collectively known as FTTx. These investments will allow SaskTel to expand the infiNET network to as many as 60 communities included in its Rural Fibre Initiative. Additionally, SaskTel will also work to complete its fibre network builds in the nine major urban centres, with a focus on connecting multi-dwelling units and businesses to the infiNET network.

Aurora program – $83.5 million

SaskTel’s Aurora program is a new undertaking, through which SaskTel aims to dramatically improve connectivity in underserved parts of and communities in Northern Saskatchewan. Through the Aurora program, SaskTel plans to expand its infiNET network to residents in more than 30 northern and Indigenous communities. SaskTel plans to construct 8 new cell sites to bring wireless coverage to Birch Narrows First Nation, Island Lake (Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation), Turnor Lake, as well as along Highway 106, also known as Hanson Lake Road. SaskTel expects to receive up to $139.0 million of funding from the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to complete the Aurora program.

In 2025/26, SaskTel expects to complete the construction of all 8 cell sites and launch infiNET service in as many as 23 northern and Indigenous communities. Any remaining communities included in the Aurora program are expected to receive infiNET service by the end of March 2027.

Technology – $77.1 million

In 2025/26, SaskTel will invest in strengthening its core networks, enhancing SaskTel selectWI-FI, maintaining maxTV infrastructure, and improving its access networks to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality services to customers.

Customer services and operations systems – $102.9 million

In 2025/26, SaskTel plans to invest in several areas that will improve overall customer experience and grow its customer base. These expenditures will include investments in the ongoing transformation of the Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) system, Customer Premise Equipment (CPE), and enhancements to the Information Systems (IS) infrastructure. These improvements aim to support SaskTel’s frontline operations and offer customers self-service options and seamless interactions across all channels.

*Capital spending is for the fiscal year 2025-2026 – April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.

About SaskTel

SaskTel is the leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provider in Saskatchewan, with approximately $1.3 billion in annual revenue and nearly 1.4 million customer connections including more than 654,000 wireless accesses, 257,000 wireline network accesses, 295,000 internet and data accesses, 111,000 maxTV service subscribers, and 77,000 security monitoring customers. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries offer a wide range of ICT products and services including competitive voice, data and Internet services, wireless data services, maxTV services, data centre services, cloud-based services, security monitoring services, advertising services, and international software and consulting services. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 3,300 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

SaskTel Media Relations
306.777.2727
media.relations@sasktel.com

NT4