Partnership improves northern cellular service
- EFN Staff | December 21, 2015
SaskTel has announced that the new cellular towers serving the communities of Stony Rapids and Black Lake are fully operational and residents can now enjoy the benefits of SaskTel wireless service. The extension of wireless cellular service to these Northern Communities was made possible through a partnership between SaskTel, Athabasca Basin Development and Huawei Canada.
This partnership is based on SaskTel’s Community Participation Model, which encourages communities to raise funds to assist in installing cellular infrastructure where it may not otherwise be economically feasible for SaskTel to do so. “SaskTel remains committed to connecting all the residents of this vast Province to technology and the opportunities it brings,” said Minister Responsible for SaskTel Jim Reiter. “In addition to this important initiative, with support from the Connecting Canadians Program, SaskTel is also working on extending and increasing broadband internet speeds to an additional 26 Northern communities.”
Wollaston Lake and Fond Du Lac First Nation also received wireless service under this initiative with service being turned up in these locations in September 2015. “This is a great day for the people in Stony Rapids,” says Mayor Daniel Powder. “We’ve heard from our neighbors in Wollaston and Fond du Lac about how much easier it is to communicate in the community and within Saskatchewan. To have dependable cellular service now in our community means so much for our residents.”
“This cell tower represents such an important investment into our community,” says Rick Robillard, Chief of Black Lake First Nation. “The increased ability to communicate opens so much more potential for our business climate and improves the lives and safety of our residents. I am very excited that these towers are operational in Black Lake.”
The total cost of this project was $6 million with Athabasca Basin Development Corporation providing $249,000 and Huawei contributing $385,000 in funding and telecommunications equipment.
“I’d like to thank SaskTel and Huawei Canada for their partnership in this exciting initiative for the Athabasca region,” says Geoff Gay, CEO of Athabasca Basin Development. “We look for opportunities that provide long lasting benefit for the Athabasca communities, and this one was such a perfect fit. We are so pleased that all four towers are now operational, and that the people in the Athabasca region have access to increased connectivity and all the benefits that come with that.”
“Huawei is extremely proud of our long-term partnership with SaskTel, and of our partnership with theAthabasca Basin Development Corporation, to work together to make this new service a reality” said Sean Yang, President Huawei Canada. “Wireless broadband and mobile services will bring both economic and social benefit to the residents of Stony Rapids and Black Lake, and reinforces the critical importance of ensuring all Canadians, regardless of location, have access to leading-edge telecommunications services.”