SaskTel History

For over 100 years, our company has evolved to embrace and deliver new technologies, products, and services. Here's an overview of our history, including industry firsts and accomplishments.

For infomation on our recognition and awards, see our Awards page for details.

2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
1940s
1930s
1920s
1910s
1900s
Before the 1900s

2020

Highlights:

SaskTel announces plans to assist customers during the global COVID-19 pandemic by waiving all data overage charges for SaskTel Wireless (postpaid and prepaid) and Fusion Internet customers who will be working from home.
SaskTel continues to enhance wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- Improved the wireless LTE service in an additional 4 rural communities with the launch of a small cell site solution, bringing the total number of rural communities to to receive one of these small cell sites as part of Phase 2 of the Wireless Saskatchewan initiative to 99.
- Expanded interNET Extended 50 service, with download speeds up to 50 Mbps, to serve 291 communities.
- Expanded maxTV Stream to serve 358 communities.
- infiNET™, SaskTel’s cutting-edge fibre optics network, begins to launch in the City of Melfort.
Through a variety of broadcast agreements, SaskTel continues to bring great local television content to the people of Saskatchewan, including:
- The Viterra Scotties and SaskTel Tankard Provincial Curling Championships.
- SJHL and SaskTel partner to bring games of the month to maxTV and maxTV Stream subscribers all over Saskatchewan. Including the first ever Pink and White game, an extra special feature to highlight SaskTel’s Be Kind Online program which aims to prevent cyber-bullying and promote kindness online for all.

2019

Highlights:

SaskTel reports another solid financial year for 2018/19 with net income of $127.4 million and operating revenues of $1,279.6 million for the year ending March 31, 2019.
SaskTel announced plans to invest $321 million of Capital throughout Saskatchewan in 2019/2020.
SaskTel’s employee driven TelCare fund raised over $165,000, that when combined with SaskTel’s commitment to match 50% of each donation, donated nearly $248,000 to 70 charitable and non-profit organizations throughout Saskatchewan.
SaskTel guides the way to making our shared world more sustainable with the release of its 2018/19 Corporate Social Responsibility Report. Highlights of the report include $2.9 million donated to over 1,000 non-profit and charitable organizations, community associations, venues, and events in more than 200 Saskatchewan communities.
SaskTel relaunches its cyberbullying prevention program as Be Kind Online.
SaskTel takes another step to being a green company by moving to paperless billing.
SaskTel Partners with Greenwave Innovations to bring energy efficiency solutions to Saskatchewan businesses.
SaskTel Board named Doug Burnett the SaskTel President and CEO.
SaskTel continues to enhance wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - Improved the wireless LTE service in 95 rural communities with the launch of small cell site solutions as part of Phase 2 of the Wireless Saskatchewan initiative.
  - Announced plans to continue to expand the most robust LTE network in Saskatchewan with the addition of 15 new macro towers in more rural areas and provincial parks as part of the Wireless Saskatchewan Initiative.
  - Improved wireless LTE service in Lloydminster with the launch of a new cell tower in the city.
  - Improved 4G LTE Capacity on 19 towers serving rural Saskatchewan.
  - Began construction to bring infiNET service to Humboldt, Melfort, Melville, Nipawin, and Tisdale.
  - Introduced two new internet packages, interNET 50 and interNET Extended 50, with download speeds up to 50 Mbps making them the fastest DSL based internet services ever available in Saskatchewan. As of December 31, 2019, SaskTel now offers Internet speeds of 50 Mbps or faster in approximately 260 communities throughout Saskatchewan.
  - Improved internet speeds in 25 Indigenous and Northern Communities.
  - Expanded maxTV Stream to serve 341 communities.
  - Announced plans to expand DSL Internet service to the Resort Village of Candle Lake in 2020.
Through a variety of broadcast agreements, SaskTel continues to bring great local television content to the people of Saskatchewan, including:
- - The Viterra Scotties and SaskTel Tankard Provincial Curling Championships.
  - The 2018/19 and 2019/20 SJHL Canalta Cup and Showcase Events.
  - The 2019 Canada West Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

2018

Highlights:

SaskTel reports strong financial results for 2017/18 with net income of $121.0 million and operating revenues of $1,253.2 million for the year ending March 31, 2018.
SaskTel announced plans to invest $301 million in capital in Saskatchewan in 2018/19 and over $1.4 billion through the next 5 years.
SaskTel TelCare program contributed $259,000 to more than 75 locally operated charities in 2018.
SaskTel released its 2017/18 Corporate Social Responsibility Report reinforcing the company’s commitment to being an ethical, active, and engaged member of the communities it serves in the province. During the year, SaskTel contributed more than $3.0 million to nearly 1,000 non-profit and charitable organizations, community associations, venues, events, and partnerships in more than 200 communities throughout Saskatchewan
SaskTel completed its second ever Phones for a Fresh Start cellphone drive, collecting over 4,400 cellphones, batteries, and accessories and diverting them from landfills.
SaskTel committed to participate in the Federal Government’s Connecting Families Initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide for low-income Canadian families by providing them with a low-cost Internet connection.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - Invested $4.6 million to improve data capacity of 37 rural towers.
  - Announced 93 rural communities to receive a small cell site solution to improve wireless service in rural Saskatchewan.
  - Launched 2 new cell towers in to improve cellular coverage in Northern Saskatchewan.
  - Launched Internet service in 13 communities and upgraded the Internet speeds in another 68.
  - Introduced interNET Extended 25 service in 63 communities.
  - Began to launch infiNET in Battleford, Emerald Park, Martensville, North Battleford, Warman, and White City.
  - The federal government announced an investment of $6.63 million in SaskTel rural High Speed networks as part of the Connect to Innovate project to help SaskTel enhance its backbone network in parets of rural Saskatchewan.
  - Completed a $4.2 million project to expand fusion Internet service to 34 new towers, expanding the service to thousands more families and businesses in rural Saskatchewan.
  - Launched maxTV Stream service, a next-generation entertainment service that combines the best of traditional television with advanced new features and the latest over-the-top content. By the end of the year maxTV Stream was available in 76 communities province wide.
SaskTel partnered with Canada West to be the exclusive Saskatchewan broadcaster of the:
- - 2018 Canada West Men and Women's Basketball Championship games
  - Canada West Football or the next 3 seasons (2018-2020)
SaskTel was named the Official Television Broadcast Home of the Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse Club, broadcasting all Rush away games live on maxTV.

2017

Highlights:

SaskTel reports another profitable year for 2016/17 with net income of $134.8 million and operating revenues of $1,277.2 million for the year ending March 31, 2017.
SaskTel announced a capital investment of approximately $302 million in Saskatchewan in 2017-2018 and over $1.4 billion through the next 5 years.
SaskTel TelCare program contributed $296,000 to over 75 Saskatchewan non-profit organizations across the province.
SaskTel released its 2016/17 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report. Moving beyond simply reporting financial contributions to the wider community, the report also details the many ways the company is working to make Saskatchewan a better place by strengthening a corporate culture that puts customers, partners, and employees first.
Phones for a Fresh Start program has collected over 100,000 cellular devices since its launch in June 2009.
SaskTel employees participated in the Comfort for Kids Challenge which focused on helping children accessing hospitals in Saskatchewan. Employees donated over $24,500, logged 2,800 volunteer hours and collected over 3,500 new items. All money and items will be donated to the Children's Hospitals of Saskatchewan and Teddy Bears Anonymous by year-end.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - LTE expansion was completed across Saskatchewan with 304 towers upgraded. The SaskTel LTE network now covers 99% of the population of the province, making it the largest in Saskatchewan by a wide margin and the largest geographic continuous LTE network in Canada.
  - SaskTel announced the launch of 4G LTE roaming in the United States providing up to 10 times faster data speeds than 3G.
  - The Code division multiple access (CDMA) network was turned down on July 5, 2017. Existing CDMA customers were transitioned over the past year to the 4G and 4G LTE network.
  - SaskTel announced an agreement with the City of Moose Jaw to bring selectWI-FI to Mosaic Place and 8 other city-run facilities. SaskTel selectWI-FI provides SaskTel customers with free and unlimited Internet access on over 4,100 access points in over 1,700 locations spread across 23 communities in Saskatchewan, making it the largest Wi-Fi network available in the province.
  - High Speed Internet was launched in 23 communities and upgraded in nearly 2,700 homes across 26 communities in northern Saskatchewan.
  - SaskTel announced infiNET is available to more than 200,000 homes and businesses through Saskatchewan, making the project more than 60% complete.
  - SaskTel signed an agreement with Ericsson to adopt the MediaFirst solution to transform maxTV.
SaskTel purchased a Tier III Data Centre in White City for $10.7 million, expanding its data centre footprint in Regina and area.
SaskTel opened a Tier III data centre - a world-class facility outfitted with cutting-edge technology to deliver services with security, availability and assurance. This data centre has 24,000 square feet of building area including 9,650 square feet of data hall space that is expandable to 30,000 square feet of data hall space.
Ron Styles announced his retirement as SaskTel President and CEO.
smartHOME officially launched and is available in a number of communities across Saskatchewan.
SaskTel and CURLSASK announced a partnership to broadcast live coverage of the 2018 SaskTel Tankard and Viterra Scotties provincial curling championships exclusively on maxTV.

2016

Highlights:

SaskTel tabled its 2015-16 annual report. Over the fifteen-month period of January 2015 to March 2016, SaskTel recorded a net income of $126.7 million on $1.5 billion. SaskTel announced a capital investment of approximately $331 million in Saskatchewan in 2016-2017 and over $1.4 billion through the next 5 years.
SaskTel TelCare program contributed $291,425 to 69 Saskatchewan non-profit organizations.
SaskTel released its 2015/2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, showing support for 1,041 non-profit and charitable organizations, with community investment of $3.6 million in Saskatchewan.
September was marked as I Am Stronger month promoting the social cause to help fight bullying in local communities and schools. In partnership with the Ministry of Education, SaskTel is encouraging youth to apply for a grant and help build awareness about bullying.
The Comfort Pack Challenge, held between 15 Sep and 25 Oct, saw SaskTel employees collecting and building backpacks to donate to Saskatchewan organizations that work directly with individuals who may be homeless or living unstable situations. Overall, over $13,000 was collected in personal donations and over 34,000 items collected, translating into more than 1,000 backpacks and 80 boxes of blankets donated to 22 organizations reaching 10 major centres across Saskatchewan.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - SaskTel launched infiNET™ in Weyburn and Estevan.
  - SaskTel reached a major milestone in its Fibre To The Premise (FTTP) program. SaskTel has completed the residential build for its fibre network in Moose Jaw, which makes Moose Jaw the largest fibre community in Western Canada.
  - SaskTel announced it would install High Speed Fusion Equipment on towers that serve 7 rural areas and expand Fusion Internet service to the rural areas around Greenstreet and Witchekan.
  - SaskTel launched High Speed Internet in Frobisher, Minton, and upgraded High Speed Internet service in nearly 2,700 homes across 26 communities in northern Saskatchewan.
  - SaskTel announced that it is making significant strides to improve the broadband service in schools all across Saskatchewan since assuming the administrative responsibility for CommunityNet (CNET). SaskTel has completed network bandwidth upgrades in over 40 schools. In addition, SaskTel will be upgrading all primary schools in the province to a minimum of 25 Mbps, a 250% increase from the previous minimum standard. Primary and secondary schools are also eligible for further bandwidth improvements based on proven demand.
  - SaskTel brought Netflix access to infiNETTM maxTV customers and is the first television provider in the province to be able to bring this level of integration to its customers.
SaskTel and the University of Regina announced they had partnered to be the first in Canada to deploy a new wireless technology, known as HetNet (Heterogeneous Networks). The technology, was installed in the Kinesiology Building and Riddell Centre at the University of Regina main campus.
SaskTel announced it has partnered with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and all Saskatchewan First Nations and Tribal Councils to bring dedicated Internet over fibre to 80 Saskatchewan First Nations offices and 10 tribal council offices.
SIMON, SaskTel’s in-house custom built application, marked its 25 anniversary in September.

2015

Highlights:

SaskTel tabled its 2014 annual report with net income of $76.4 million and $1.231 billion in revenue.
SaskTel announced investment of approximately $313 million in capital into SaskTel for 2015, with $177 million designated to the core network.
SaskTel TelCare program contributed $294,622 to 67 Saskatchewan non-profit organizations across the province.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - SaskTel introduced new roam & RELAX Travel rates with significant rate reductions for roaming in the United States and in select international locations.
  - SaskTel launched a new mobile payments solution on 22 Apr 2015 to TD customers. The solution allows customers to make purchases using only their mobile device and their banks mobile payments application.
  - SaskTel announced that as a result of the successful migration of WBBI (Wireless Broadband Internet) customers to the new High Speed Fusion Internet service, a fixed wireless LTE-TDD service, SaskTel officially shut down the WBBI service on January 30, 2015. High Speed Fusion Internet service will provide customers with more than twice the speed that was possible with its former WBBI service. SaskTel was the first to offer this service in North America.
  - New cellular towers launched to serve the communities of Stony Rapids, Black Lake, Canoe Narrows (will serve the communities of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, Jans Bay and surrounding area), Wollaston Lake, and Fond Du Lac First nation.
  - SaskTel received approval from Industry Canada for the spectrum licence transfer of 2 blocks of AWS-1 spectrum from WIND Mobile. The spectrum transfer allowed SaskTel to increase the capacity and speed of its 4G LTE network in the 9 major urban centres in Saskatchewan.
  - SaskTel enhanced LTE capacity to its wireless network in Regina and Saskatoon, deploying additional carriers on 25 cellular sites in Regina and Saskatoon to boost the LTE capacity of those sites by up to 100%.
  - SaskTel added additional capacity to its 4G wireless network in 17 resort communities across rural Saskatchewan to address the ever-growing customer demand. SaskTel is the first and only provider to extend wireless coverage to resorts.
  - Announced that infiNET, SaskTel’s new Fibre Optic Network, is coming next to the residential areas of Estevan and Weyburn.
  - SaskTel continued to improve High Speed Internet access and speed in rural Saskatchewan with the launch of Internet service in 8 new rural communities and upgrade the Internet speeds speeds in 29 communities.
  - SaskTel announced the completion of a 2 year rural program that provided residents in 54 communities in Saskatchewan access to High Speed Internet service and residents in an additional 251 communities access to at least double the speeds they previously had for High Speed Internet service.
SaskTel announced the launch of a new billing system (Astra) for wireless services. The system provides customers with a simplified bill that is streamlined and easier to understand. The new billing system also allows customers to manage data caps more efficiently and manage spending limits by setting a maximum balance that can be reached per wireless device.
SaskTel launched Wavelength service, a solution that offers businesses up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of dedicated bandwidth to support latency sensitive networking applications. This new service provides protection for disaster recovery, off-site data back-up, and inter-connection of storage area networks, and is available to retail and wholesale business customers in Regina, White City, and Saskatoon.
A second SaskTel Store opened in Regina on 30 March, 2015 located at 4725 Gordon Road in Harbour Landing.
SaskTel began construction of a new certified Tier III Data Centre in Saskatoon.
SaskTel and SecurTek reached an agreement which will see SecurTek staff perform Directory Assistance and Toll Operator services. SecurTek takes over these functions end of November 2015.

2014

Highlights:

SaskTel tabled its 2013 annual report with net income of $90.1 million and $1.2 billion in revenue.
SaskTel announced investment of approximately $322 million in capital into SaskTel for 2014, with $183 million designated to the core network.
SaskTel released its 2013 Transparency Report detailing the amount and types of requests received for customer information and the legal requirements that govern its disclosure.
SaskTel TelCare program contributed $313,261 to Saskatchewan non-profit organizations in 2014.
Saskatchewan Government partnered with SaskTel "I Am Stronger" to expand options for children and youth to report bullying with a mobile-enabled anonymous anti-bullying online reporting tool.
SaskTel sent its 15th SaskTel We See You shipping container filled with medical and education supplies for Malawi, Africa.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - SaskTel added capacity to its 4G wireless network in 111 communities in rural Saskatchewan to address the ever-growing customer demand.
  - SaskTel replaced the obsolete Wireless Broadband Internet (WBBI) system with High Speed Fusion Internet Service, a new fixed wireless LTE-TDD service.
  - SaskTel completed upgraded CommunityNet Internet speeds for approximately 500 schools across the province. CommunityNet is a dedicated, wide-area network delivered by SaskTel that connects executive government, health and education sectors in the province to the Internet.
maxTV Online became maxTV On the Go, an on-demand video and music streaming service available free to residential maxTV subscribers. Customers can stream content, including a great selection of movies to rent, on their computers and on their Apple and Android tablets and smartphones.
SaskTel secured the naming rights to the former Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon. For the next 10 years, we will be exclusive communications provider to the SaskTel Centre.
SAEN (SaskTel Aboriginal Employees Network) celebrated its 20th anniversary at SaskTel.
SaskTel celebrated 25 years of wireless service.

2013

Highlights:

SaskTel announced that it will invest approximately $400 million in overall capital expenditures in 2013, with approximately $216 million dollars being allocated towards its core Saskatchewan network.
SaskTel TelCare donated more than $131,000 to 21 organizations across the province.
SaskTel allocated the remaining monies in its deferral account to the Regina and District Association of Community Living (RDACL) to be used for the provision of telecommunications technology and training to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
SaskTel began converting existing DSL business customers to infiNET in the downtown core areas of Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.
SaskTel maxTV provided free live coverage of the SaskTel Men’s Tankard semi-final and final.
SaskTel announced a comprehensive rural strategy at the SARM convention that includes plans to increase current Internet speeds to 220 different rural communities, newly roll out DSL service to 50 rural communities and a commitment to completing a fibre backbone infrastructure project in Northern Saskatchewan.

2012

Highlights:

SaskTel reported 2011 net income of $154.0 million, up $4.5million (3.0%) from 2010 and operating revenues of $1,125.8 million, up $12.8million (1.2%) from 2010.
SaskTel TelCare program donated a total of $279,735 to organizations across Saskatchewan.
SaskTel and Saskatoon Public Schools partnered to transform a 40-foot shipping container into a fully operational shelter that was shipped to Arusha, Tanzania as part of the SaskTel We See You Program.
SaskTel and the Saskatchewan Abilities Council signed a newly created Letter of Understanding (LOU) to advance their joint efforts to increase and promote supported employment opportunities for people with disabilities across the province.
SaskTel provided a sponsorship to the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan capital campaign for $600,000.
The business of CIC Electric Service in Watrous, Saskatchewan was brought into the world of web-based customer service and smartphones, courtesy of a free technology makeover worth $50,000 as the winner of the Horizon & SaskTel Extreme Technology Makeover contest.
Seccuris and SaskTel announced a partnership to develop an Information Assurance Portal (IAP) which will provide a comprehensive set of information security services to small and mid-enterprise business customers in Saskatchewan, and across Canada.
SaskTel partnered with En Stream to utilize their Secure Element Management (SEM) technology platform in order to enable customers to access a variety of new and exciting mobile commerce applications.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - SaskTel launched the first phase of its new 4G LTE wireless network with a technical trial announcement.
  - SaskTel announced that they now serve 600,000 wireless customers throughout the Province of Saskatchewan.
  - SaskTel launched infiNET, the new Fibre Optic Network. infiNET is the official name for the Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Program, a 7-year $670 million dollar 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.
  - SaskTel and Huawei announced the signing of an agreement to launch a TDD-LTE (Long Term Evolution) fixed wireless trial in Saskatchewan. This is the first TDD-LTE 2.5GHz fixed wireless trial in Canada. The trial will help determine the feasibility of wireless broadband and voice services for customers in predominantly rural locations.
SaskTel celebrated 5 years of community programming with maxTV Local on Demand. When Local on Demand launched on December 13, 2006, SaskTel was the first service provider in Canada to offer community programming using a video on demand platform.

2011

Highlights:

SaskTel reported 2010 as its best operating year ever highlighted by a net income of $155.2 million and operating revenues of $1,112.4 million.
SaskTel and Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region teamed up to pack and ship 40 foot container with medical equipment and supplies, clothing, toys and other items to orphanages and health clinics in Arusha, Tanzania.
SaskTel reached an agreement with PFM Capital for the sale of Hospitality Network Canada Inc. assets. The sale price net of working capital adjustments is $36.6 million.
SecurTek Monitoring Solutions Inc. acquired 1,300 customer accounts from one Saskatchewan based security monitoring provider and 3 providers in Alberta for approximately $1.1 million.
SaskTel continues to make strides enhancing wireless, Internet, and television services throughout Saskatchewan:
- - SaskTel classified its wireless network as 4G province-wide.
  - SaskTel announced launch of iPhone 4 in Saskatchewan.
  - SaskTel announced plan to deploy Long Term Evolution (LTE), the next generation of wireless technology in 2012.
  - SaskTel invested $199 Million in its Saskatchewan network and approximately $670 million in a 7-year Next Generation Broadband Access Program. The program is designed to bring Fiber to the Premises and upgrade SaskTel's Broadband network in the 9 largest urban centres in the province – Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Weyburn, Estevan, Swift Current, Yorkton, North Battleford and Prince Albert by the year 2017.SaskTel launched first phase of its Fibre to the Premises network at University of Saskatchewan College Quarters.
  - SaskTel launched maxTV to 8 more locations across Saskatchewan – Canora, Esterhazy, Kamsack, Kindersley, Meadow Lake, Nipawin, Rosetown, Tisdale.
SaskTel opened new stores complete with interactive displays in Regina, Saskatoon and Swift Current.
The Canadian Numbering Administrator advised that Saskatchewan's 306 area code was expected to exhaust its supply of telephone numbers by May 2013. New 639 area code was implemented across the province in 2013 using the overlay method as directed by the CRTC.

2010

Highlights:

SaskTel released its 2009 financial results, highlighted by a net income of $129.0 million and operating revenues of $1.15 billion, up $13.7 million from 2008.
SaskTel invested $239 million in its network in 2010. Residential and business customers in communities across the province received improved and expanded SaskTel services as a result of this major capital investment.
SaskTel employees, high school students and others gathered at a SaskTel warehouse to fill a 40-foot shipping container with medical supplies, personal hygiene products, tents, hand-made teddy bears and other donated items for Haiti earthquake relief. This is the 8th SaskTel sponsored container sent to a developing nation since 2006.
SaskTel made a capital investment of $22 million to expand the Next Generation Access Infrastructure program (NGAI) to 14 more communities over the next 2 years.
26 First Nations communities in Saskatchewan received access to high-speed Internet and cellular telephone service over the next 3 years though a combined investment of more than $16.8 million by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and SaskTel.
SaskTel upgraded 210 High Speed Internet Basic communities from 1.5 Mbps to 5 Mbps.

2009

Highlights:

SaskTel released its 2008 financial results, highlighted by a net income of $121.4 million, and operating revenues of$1,137.8 million.
SaskTel invested $220 million in its network, including $42.4 million from the Government of Saskatchewan for year one of a three-year Rural Infrastructure Program.
SaskTel launched a new cell phone recycle program called Phones for a Fresh Start.
SaskTel entered into an agreement with Bell and TELUS to collectively build the largest and best Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network in Canada.
SaskTel Labs, in partnership with Saskatoon-based zu, developed the Rider App for compatible mobile devices. The Rider App is SaskTel Labs' first commercial product.

2008

Highlight:

SaskTel celebrated its 100th anniversary.

2007

Highlights:

SaskTel exceeded $1 billion in revenues for the first time in its history.
SaskTel International was awarded a 3-year management contract to manage all aspects of the operations, maintenance and expansion of Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited.
SaskTel HP Signature Certified Partner status was renewed through the HP Service Provider Certification Program. The program establishes SaskTel as an industry-leading hosting service provider operating in accordance with HP's stringent standards.

2006

Highlights:

SaskTel announced that, through 2010, it will make a capital investment of $310 million in its Next Generation Access Infrastructure (NGAI) which will provide increased bandwidth to customers. SaskTel's total capital investment in its network for the year was approximately $245 million, with $136.5 million dedicated to NGAI.
SaskTel TelCare donated $221, 728, which is matched by 50% by SaskTel, for a total of $332, 591 to 150 Saskatchewan charities.
SaskTel Pioneers contributed $383,553 and 85,000 hours of volunteer time.
SaskTel donated $3,639, 608 to 1,644 non-profit and charitable organizations.
SaskTel announced $1 million in support of the University of Saskatchewan and the Royal University Hospital Foundation.
SaskTel partnered with over 140 private Saskatchewan businesses in over 50 locations.
SaskTel spent more than $277 million on materials and services from Saskatchewan suppliers.
SaskTel was the first in North America to deliver HDTV over IP due to its Next Generation Access Infrastructure investment.
In September 2006, SaskTel launched Say & Send messaging service, a service that enables SaskTel postpaid cellular customers to record voice messages and send them instantly to other SaskTel cellular customers. SaskTel is the first communications company in Canada to launch this type of service.
SaskTel launched its new SaskTel 10-4 Service to give customers greater calling flexibility than ever before. With this Push-To-Talk service, SaskTel cellular customers using a Sanyo 2300 cellular phone can use their phone much like a walkie-talkie.

2005

Highlights:

SaskTel invested more than $116 million to maintain and upgrade its provincial network.
SaskTel Mobility announced that over the next 2 years it will further invest up to $28 million in its digital cellular network in Saskatchewan. This will bring SaskTel Mobility's total investment in digital cellular since 1998 to $120 million.
SaskTel was chosen as the service provider to deliver high speed Internet service to customers in 35 northern Saskatchewan communities as part of the Northern Broadband Network (NBN) Initiative to build the Northern Broadband project, an $11.6 million endeavor co-funded by Industry Canada’s Broadband for Rural and Northern Development program, the Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement, the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement and SaskTel. SaskTel commits approximately $6.1 million in capital and operating costs.
SaskTel launched maxTV Caller ID, displays the name and number of the incoming call on the TV during the first ring, in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Swift Current, Estevan and Weyburn.
SaskTel was one of first in Canada to introduce the third generation of wireless technology, Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO), which will bring wireless Internet speeds up to par with landline high speed Internet service.
SaskTel announced it has entered a two-year Video-on-Demand (VOD) distribution agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, which will provide current movies for viewing on SaskTel maxTV Front Row Video-on-Demand service.
SaskTel announced it has entered into a non-exclusive Video-on-Demand (VOD) agreement with Paramount Pictures in Canada.
SaskTel entered into a multi-year Video-on-Demand distribution agreement with Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI). SPTI will provide movies for SaskTel maxTV Front Row Video-on-Demand service.

2004

Highlights:

SaskTel announced the investment of more than $121 million to maintain and upgrade its provincial network in 2004, allowing Saskatchewan residents and business owners to connect to the global marketplace.
The Telcare program raised more than $400,000 in 2004.
SaskTel announced a $500,000 donation to the University of Regina's Building Dreams and Futures campaign. The money raised in the campaign will be used for the priority areas of the University of Regina—student support; research support; Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport; the 2005 Canada Games; and emerging priorities.
SaskTel, along with SaskEnergy, Trans Gas, Sask Pipelines and other pipeline companies, announced a partnership to provide a centralized toll free number for cable locates in Saskatchewan called "Sask 1st Call".
In January, Business Watch International (BWI), a SaskTel investment, announced the signing of a $1.12 million (CDN) contract with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) for the design and development of a regional pawn transaction data sharing system.
SaskTel Mobility announced more enhancements to digital cell phones with a wider variety of graphics, ring tones and games that can be downloaded.
SaskTel Mobility announced expansion plans for northwest Saskatchewan with a $5.5 million investment designated for the Alberta / Saskatchewan border, north of Lloyd minster.
SaskTel Mobility also announced a $12 million investment in its digital cellular network in Saskatchewan. This investment will enhance cellular coverage through improvements to existing coverage areas and the construction of new towers along the Saskatchewan oil patch in the southeast and northwest parts of the province, and along some highway corridors.
SaskTel announced Community Net II, an initiative that will expand the SaskTel high speed Internet network to an additional 71 communities in Saskatchewan. Once complete, 86 percent of Saskatchewan people will have access to high speed Internet.
SaskTel International announced a new $650,000 infrastructure project for Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) and a $250,000 contract to conduct a comprehensive assessment of rural telecom infrastructure in Ukraine. SaskTel was also formally recognized by the Government of Canada for its on going work with telecommunications projects in developing countries.
SaskTel International announced a $6.2 million contract to complete a rural network infrastructure project in Mozambique. The project means SaskTel will upgrade and implement service to over 175,000 square kilometers of the African country.
SaskTel International announced plans to open an office in the United Arab Emirates to develop contract project and professional services opportunities.

2003

Highlights:

In April, SaskTel announced the network investment of $156 million to maintain and upgrade its provincial network and continue to allow residents and business owners to connect to the global marketplace.
SaskTel Mobility invested over $31 million in capital, with the majority used for province-wide deployment of 1xRTT, a next generation digital packet data network. Also, SaskTel Mobility continued to aggressively expand its digital network with the deployment of 63 new digital sites, 8 of them providing cellular coverage to areas with no previous cellular coverage.
SaskTel Telcare's program continued to make impressive donations to Saskatchewan community organizations: $15,000 in North Battleford, $4,000 in Estevan, $7,000 in Moose Jaw, $7,000 in Swift Current, $100,000 in Saskatoon and $200,000 in Regina for a total, in 2003, of $339,957.37.
SaskTel donated $1.7 million to over 1,500 organizations involved in health, educational, cultural, athletic ,Aboriginal, and community service activities in the province. This includes corporate contributions and sponsorships, as well as event marketing and social marketing.
SaskTel spent $215 million on materials and services from over 4,100 Saskatchewan suppliers, supporting the provincial economy by maximizing the Saskatchewan content of goods and services purchased.
SaskTel expanded its high speed Internet network to 114 additional Saskatchewan communities, for a total of 237 communities. The corporation remains Saskatchewan's number one Internet service provider with high speed Internet access currently available to 75% of the population, and an overall market share of approximately 70%.
SaskTel High Speed Light service extended to 8 communities in 2003.
In September, SaskTel maxTV Interactive Services celebrated its first anniversary. In its first year, more than 10,000 customers signed up for the service which allows customers to receive unlimited high speed Internet service on their televisions and computers, as well as a full lineup of digital quality television channels, including local radio and television programming. During the same month, SaskTel also introduced maxTV Front Row, a video-on-demand service that, unlike traditional pay-per-view service, means that customers do not have to watch movies through their set top boxes at pre-designated times. SaskTel was the first telecommunications company in North America to offer a video-on-demand service.
SaskTel announced a merger of Tappedinto.com, the subsidiary company which offers Internet broadband streaming media and houses a technical operation centre in Regina with Stream logics Corporation. The merger positions the combined entity as Canada's largest provider of webcasting services, while further broadening the company's footprint in the US market.

2002

Highlights:

SaskTel Mobility announced plans to invest up to $15 million in 2002 to bring digital cellular service to more Saskatchewan communities, a continuation of the largest expansion project ever for SaskTel Mobility.
SaskTel officially launched maxTV Interactive Services—an innovative new service that allows customers to have unlimited high speed Internet on their TV and computer as well as a full lineup of digital quality television channels. SaskTel was one of the first in Canada to offer IPTV.
SaskTel announced that it will be expanding its high speed Internet service to 191 Saskatchewan communities over the next 2 years.
SaskTel announced a third Internet option,SaskTel High Speed Light, for customers in Saskatchewan's major centres.
SaskTel International announced the largest software sale in its 16-year history—a contract was signed with TDS Telecom to provide the MARTENS® Service Provisioning and MAGIC (Modular Application Gateway Interface Connector) software products and related services.

2001

Highlights:

On July 31st, SaskTel announced the acquisition of RSL COM Canada (now known as Navigata) for approximately $17 million. The Vancouver-based company provides a full range of products including local service, long distance services, Internet services, and high speed data services to customers located in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
SaskTel announced another advanced data centre for Saskatchewan, continuing to grow and enhance its data and Internet business. Based in Saskatoon, the data centre provides all customers with a wide range of reliable data storage and hosting services.
SaskTel Mobility announced the expansion of its digital cellular network, with the objective of completely overlaying the existing analog network within the next 3 years. SaskTel invested $24 million in this expansion, which builds the foundation for future high-speed wireless data applications.
SaskTel announced that 27 more Saskatchewan communities will join SaskTel's high speed Internet network before the end of the year.
SaskTel International celebrated 15 years of success in the global marketplace.

2000

Highlights:

SaskTel became regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) effective June 30.
SaskTel expanded analog cellular service to more than 90% of the Saskatchewan population and invested more than $12 million to build Saskatchewan's digital Personal Communications Services (PCS) network.
The availability of SaskTel High Speed Internet service was expanded to more than 50% of the Saskatchewan population.
An application was presented to the CRTC for a Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking (BDU) license to offer Digital Interactive Video (DIV).

1990s

1999

Highlights:

SaskTel invested over $8.2 million in their network in order to bring high speed Internet access to new areas of the province.
SaskTel Mobility made a commitment to invest $12.3 million to expand the digital PCS network, making SaskTel's digital coverage the largest in Saskatchewan.
SaskTel rolled out a new strategic plan to take the corporation into the 21st century.
A new company entered the SaskTel family with the creation of SecurTek, a remote monitoring service that offers residents and businesses a state-of-the-art security monitoring system for their property.
SaskTel rigorously prepared for regulation by the CRTC which was expected to bring changes in the operating environment and impacts on future pricing, products, service development, and financial performance.

1997

Highlights:

SaskTel introduced the Core Network Evolution Plan (CNEP), a $194 million undertaking spread over 6 years, to develop our transmission and switching systems to a state of readiness for the future's high-band width telecommunications.
SaskTel celebrated its 50th Anniversary as a Crown Corporation.
This was SaskTel's first full year of long distance competition, which ended with a 92% market share, despite aggressive moves by other corporations to attract long distance customers.
The First Nations Service Improvement Program was launched, bringing improved service to 58 First Nations and to over 1000 new customers.
SaskTel increased investment in Direct West Publishers from 50% to 100%.

1996

Highlights:

SaskTel became the first telecommunications company in Canada to deliver commercial high speed Internet using ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) technology.
This is the year when long distance competition arrived in Saskatchewan.
SaskTel Mobility signed up its 100,000th customer, leading to its success in achieving the second highest rate of market penetration among Mobility Canada member companies. SaskTel Mobility expanded its coverage to stretch 105,000 square kilometres beyond any competitor's coverage area.
The SaskTel Call Centre opened in the new Customer Care Centre in Regina—a state-of-the-art, fully-blended, and multi-functional telemarketing operation.
SaskTel signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) to create the first call centre in Canada owned and operated by First Nations people.
SaskTel experienced the first full scale strike in its history.

1995

Highlights:

Record profits of $191.8 million were recorded in 1995 due, in no small part, to the sale of LCL Cable Communications Ltd.
1995 was one of the busiest years in SaskTel history. The customer base exceeded 450,000, compared to 3,000 in 1908 when SaskTel was formed, and covered 98% of Saskatchewan homes.
The Internet officially came to SaskTel in a big way. Saskatchewan had access to the Internet through SaskNet, a service provided by the 2 Saskatchewan universities. SaskTel brought universality of service and moderation of prices to the residents of Saskatchewan including being the only Internet provider in Canada to waive long distance dial-up charges for rural customers.
SaskTel affirmed its commitment to safety by continuing to provide 9-1-1 coverage to more than half of the province and announcing plans to increase the service to be province-wide by the year 2000.

1994

Highlights:

The exhaustion of the 160 existing area codes ushered in a new era of dialing for Saskatchewan residents, as the '306' area code now had to be dialed for all in-province long distance calls.
SaskTel International ended a 4 year commitment to the largest construction project of the 20th century, the English Channel Tunnel project. SaskTel International performed the design audit, detailed system and management audits, and provided installation and commissioning for the Channel Tunnel's telecommunications and control systems.

1993

Highlights:

The ownership of SaskTel was restructured to create both a holding corporation and a telco-operating company.
SaskTel announced a new 5 year strategic plan, clearly stating SaskTel's vision of the future.

1992

Highlight:

1992 was a landmark year for the telecommunications industry as the CRTC allowed long distance competition in Canada. The Province of Saskatchewan was successful in negotiating a 5 year moratorium with the Government of Canada to have SaskTel remain outside of the CRTC's regulation. This moratorium would allow SaskTel to examine a regulatory framework that is in the best interests of the people of Saskatchewan.

1991

Highlight:

SaskTel offered its customers custom calling services—call display, call trace, and call return—networked between Saskatchewan communities, the first company to do so in Canada.

1990

Highlights:

The largest single project in SaskTel's history, the $225 million individual line service program, is completed. The project provided advanced urban-quality line to rural customers throughout the province. SaskTel was the first telecommunications company in Canada to complete its rural individual line service program, eliminating party lines through out Saskatchewan in the early 1990’s.
SaskTel introduced a program to convert SaskTel's facilities fully to computer-based digital technology.

1980s

Highlights:

In 1989, SaskTel International invested in Leicester Communications Limited (LCL), a cable/telecommunications company in the United Kingdom.
SaskTel brought cellular service to the Province in 1989.
A digital switching modernization program which will result in Saskatchewan having an all-digital network in place by early 1996 was announced.
In 1986, SaskTel International was formed to market the corporation's expertise in advanced telecommunications technologies, particularly fibre optic systems, to clients around the world.
The 5 year, rural individual line service program was started in 1985. The program upgraded some 70,000 multi-party line customers to individual line service.
The completion of the world's longest commercial fibre optic system, 3,268 kilometres, initially connected 52 of Saskatchewan's largest communities. SaskTel was the first in the world in 1984 in completing what was then the longest commercial fiber optic network. SaskTel continues to be a world leader in fiber optics—no more evident than SaskTel's key role in the largest construction project of the 20th century-helping install and test the communications system in the Channel Tunnel linking England and France.
In 1982, the first link of the fibre optic Broadband Network (BBN), between Regina and Yorkton, was inaugurated in January.
In 1981, there were about 670 telephones for every 1,000 people in Saskatchewan—a remarkable achievement given the topography of the province.
Direct Dialing Overseas (DDO) allowed customers to direct dial their own overseas calls. This service was made available to a number of larger centres in Saskatchewan in 1981.
In 1980, computerized directory assistance (DA) was put into service in major Saskatchewan cities. Now, instead of looking in large printed directories for a requested number, DA operators use keyboards and read listings displayed on view screens.
Late in 1980, SaskTel began construction of the world's longest commercial fibre optic network. This new technology converts all forms of messages to symbols of light and then transmits the messages on hair-thins strands of ultra-pure glass. Each strand of fibre optic cable can carry 672 telephone conversations (one way), or one video channel, or 45 megabits of data per second.

1970s

Highlights:

SaskTel became an acknowledged world leader in several areas during the 1970s and 1980s. Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to have all toll lines buried.
Multi-line party telephone facilities were upgraded to private line service. A province-wide relay service for hearing impaired persons was also implemented.
In 1979, SaskTel installed the first digital switching system in the province, in the northern community of La Ronge.
Saskatoon became the first city in Saskatchewan to offer 0+ in 1978. For the first time customers were able to dial calls that had formerly required an operator. An operator need only come on the line to record pertinent information or complete collect calls and person-to-person calls, allowing faster, more efficient service.
1977 saw the milestone installation of the 500,000th telephone in the SaskTel system. There were 52,000,000 long distance calls.
In 1977, Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to have all toll lines buried when the last pole line, which ran between Melfort and Star City, was replaced.
In 1976, the corporation began a 7-year program which allowed rural telephone companies—some 700 in all—to be voluntarily assimilated into the SaskTel system. The program was completed ahead of schedule in 1982.
As common carrier for telecommunications signals in Saskatchewan, SaskTel began the construction of a CATV cable distribution system in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and the Battlefords in 1976. Within 2 years, cable was in place to carry the signal from the cable programs to every subscriber in those 4 cities. In 1982, SaskTel purchased the CATV distribution system in Prince Albert.
In 1975, there were 400,000 telephones in service; 42,342,000 long distance calls.
By mid-September, 1974, all of the telephones in the province were dial operated.
SaskTel installed its first computer-controlled electronic switching equipment for local service in Saskatoon in 1974. The equipment not only increased the speed and capacity of the telephone system, but also informed its human attendant what technical problems were developing via a typewriter.

1960s

Highlights:

The 1960s were a busy time for SaskTel. Direct distance dialing was introduced, eliminating the need for operators to handle all long distance calls; 7,000 previously unserved rural customers received telephone service for the first time; and push button or "touchtone" phones were available for the first time.
In 1969, an act of legislature was passed amending the Saskatchewan Government Telephones Act and the corporation became officially known as Saskatchewan Telecommunications. The trade name SaskTel had already been in use for several years.
There were 300,000 telephones in service with 18,272,000 long distance calls in 1969.
A second microwave system, referred to as the Prairie Microwave Network, was completed and put into service in 1968.
Push button telephone service, commonly referred to as TouchTone, made its appearance in Saskatchewan in 1968. Advancements in central office equipment installations made this ultra modern subscriber service possible.
In 1966, SaskTel undertook a program to provide service to some 6,000 farms not served by rural telephone companies.
In 1964, Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) by the customer was first introduced to the province with the addition of the Regina and Saskatoon long distance centres to the continent-wide direct dialing network. Direct Distance Dialing service allows users to dial their own station-to-station long distance calls to almost anywhere on the North American continent.

1950s

Highlights:

A microwave system for voice communications only was installed between Regina and Weyburn, Regina and Estevan, and Regina and Yorkton in 1958.
The first automatic crossbar local switching system in Canada adapted for the switching of long distance calls was installed in Saskatoon in 1958. This system made it possible for long distance operators to connect subscribers' calls with ease, directly to the desired destination, without the assistance of operators at intermediate points along the way.
In 1957, SaskTel completed its portion of the Trans Canada Microwave System. Beaming signals from tower to tower, the system carries video, voice and data communications.
In 1957, SaskTel completed its portion of the first trans-Canada microwave radio relay system. Live network television programs could now be transmitted coast-to-coast helping create the tradition behind broadcasts like "Hockey Night in Canada".
Local service was first introduced to the province's most northerly community, Uranium City, on November 30, 1955.
In 1953, there were 100,000 SaskTel telephones in service, with 7,492,701 long distance calls.

1940s

Highlights:

On June 1, 1947, the telephone system, created by an Act of the Legislature in 1908, became a provincial Crown Corporation, officially known then as Saskatchewan Government Telephones. The move was made in order to separate the commercial functions from the regulatory functions of the Department of Telephones, a department to deal with rural telephone matters.
In 1947, there were 57,000 SaskTel phones in service, with 3,741,996 long distance calls placed in Saskatchewan.

1930s

Highlights:

The drought and dust of the dirty thirties, followed by the outbreak of the Second World War, curtailed the expansion of long distance facilities for a period of about 20 years.
In just 32 months, from the end of April 1930 to the end of December 1932, there was a loss of 29,400 subscribers. Only one exchange, Yorkton, was converted to dial during this period.

1920s

Highlights:

SaskTel continued to upgrade its services throughout the 1920s. It was one of the founding members of the national Trans Canada Telephone System (TCTS), which changed its name to Telecom Canada and eventually Stentor.
In 1928, North Battleford, Indian Head, and Melfort were converted to dial operation.
SaskTel installed the first Canadian-manufactured carrier system. This system, placed into service in October 1928, between Regina and Saskatoon, made it possible for 4 conversations to be transmitted simultaneously over the same pair of wires.
In 1923, SaskTel provided lines for the first church service broadcast in Canada. Later, in the same year, long distance lines were used for the first time in Saskatchewan to carry a music festival program from Prince Albert to Regina for radio broadcasting.
In 1923, Vacuum tubes had found their way into SaskTel's signal repeater equipment, strengthening and clarifying weak voice currents.

1910s

Highlights:

Moose Jaw (1919), Qu'Appelle (1919), Swift Current (1918), and Prince Albert (1915) were converted to automatic dial systems.
The Qu'Appelle exchange was the first in North America to operate as a Community Dial Office (CDO). A CDO is an automatic call switching office designed to serve a small community area with dial service.
An automatic dial system, housed in the telephone building at 12th Ave. and Lorne Street, was installed to serve Regina's residents. The automatic dial system served the city from January 1914 until November 1955, when it was replaced by the 7-digit numbering system.
On June 30, 1912, Regina's telephone office was completely destroyed by the famous Regina Cyclone. Long distance service had been restored within 24 hours; local service was restored on a limited basis within 6 weeks of the cyclone.
By the close of 1912, a long distance network serving all major centres in the province, had taken shape. Some 3,170 miles of long distance pole lines were carrying over 11,850 miles of wire.
On December 1, 1912, Yorkton was added to the provincial [telephone] system with the purchase of the North West Electric Company.
SaskTel expanded with the purchases of Saltcoats District Telephone Company in 1911, the North-Western Telephone Company (Saskatoon), and the Swift Current System.
By the end of 1911, nearly 15,000 local subscribers were connected to the [telephone] System's exchanges, in addition to which there were some 9,000 subscribers in the province's rural and independent companies.

1900s

Highlights:

In 1909, SaskTel built its first telephone exchanges at Hanley and Melville.
On October 1, 1909, SaskTel 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 1909, the number of SaskTel subscribers was 5,710 (3,412 local, 2,118 rural, and 180 municipal telephones).
SaskTel, the major telephone system in the province, had its origin in the Department of Railways, Telegraphs and Telephones, which was established by the Telephone Acts, assented to on June 12, 1908.
Saskatoon became one of the first Canadian cities to provide automatic exchange service in 1907.
In 1906, The Bell Telephone Company extended its long distance facilities from Manitoba to connect Winnipeg with Regina to provide long distance service.
In 1905, there were about 2,000 telephones in operation in the larger cities of Saskatchewan.

Before the 1900s

Highlights:

The first telephone exchange in Saskatchewan was opened in Peter Lamont's bookstore on South Railway near Hamilton Street in Regina in 1887.
In 1887, Emily Lander was the first telephone operator in Saskatchewan.
Less than a decade after Bell's invention of the telephone, voices were being sent over a wire in Regina in 1882.