SaskTel, officially known as Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation, is a crown-owned telecommunications company based in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. It was established as the Department of Railways, Telegraphs and Telephones on June 12, 1908, under the Telephone Acts. In 1947, the operational duties for the province's telephone system were taken over by the newly-established crown corporation Saskatchewan Government Telephones, marking a separation of the administrative and regulatory duties of the telephone system. SaskTel is owned by the provincial government and offers a range of communication services, including landline telephone, mobile networks, broadband internet, IPTV, and security services.
The company has undergone several changes and expansions since its inception, including the launch of various subsidiaries such as SaskTel International and SecurTek. In 2016, Bill 40 was proposed by the Saskatchewan Party government, which allowed for the partial privatization of up to 50% of a provincial crown corporation without seeking public approval. This bill prompted concerns about potential sales of SaskTel shares to third parties. However, the bill was repealed in 2017. SaskTel continues to operate as a crown corporation, serving approximately 1.4 million customers as of 2022.
Alias
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation
Country
Type
Network Operator
3G Network
The company switched on 3G UMTS
services over B2 (1900 MHz) in August 2010 and adding B5 (850 MHz) after refarming EV-DO spectrum in 2014. Services have been refarmed to 4G LTE .3G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band | Status |
---|---|
Shutting Down
|
|
Shutting Down
|
3G Network Events
Date | Event | Subtype |
---|---|---|
|
Launch of 3G Network
|
Launch
|
4G Network
In January 2013 SaskTel launched 4G LTE
services initially over the B4 (1700 MHz) band, adding B13 (700 MHz) after a successful spectrum auction bid. Replacing antiquated pre-WiMAX equipment, SaskTel refarmed 2500 MHz spectrum and deployed 'Fusion Internet' TDD -LTE fixed wireless services over B41 (2500 MHz) in September 2013. Following partial refarming of 3G spectrum, additional carriers B2 and B5 were activated. B66 was also implemented around 2016. B70 has been observed in certain areas as early as 2021.4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band | Max. Channel Bandwidth | Status | Known EARFCNs |
---|---|---|---|
15
|
Active
|
1125
|
|
15
|
Active
|
2025
|
|
5
|
Active
|
2535
|
|
10
|
Active
|
5230
|
|
20
|
Active
|
66686
|
|
20
|
Active
|
68386
|
|
Active
|
4G Network Events
Date | Event | Subtype |
---|---|---|
|
Launch of 4G Network
|
Launch
|
5G Network
Following the country's August spectrum auctions, Sasktel launched its 5G network in December 2021 with the implementation of n66 and n78 carriers.
5G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band | Max. Channel Bandwidth | Status |
---|---|---|
10
|
Active
|
|
100
|
Active
|
5G Network Events
Date | Event | Subtype |
---|---|---|
|
Launch of 5G Network
|
Launch
|