WIRELESS INTERNET AND IMPROVED CELLULAR COVERAGE FOR HODGEVILLE

Hodgeville and the surrounding area will now be able to enjoy the benefits of SaskTel's Wireless Internet service as well as improved digital cellular service.

"Thanks to CommunityNet II, Saskatchewan will continue to lead the way in Canada in deploying high speed Internet service to rural communities," Minister responsible for SaskTel Deb Higgins said. "Residents and business owners in communities across Saskatchewan are receiving high speed access sooner than many larger urban centres in Canada as a result of this initiative."

SaskTel Wireless Internet is up to 70 times faster than dial-up and includes unlimited time on-line. Coverage for this service is within approximately a 30 km radius from the wireless Internet-provisioned tower located by Hodgeville, dependent upon terrain and topography. Local authorized SaskTel Wireless Internet dealers have full coverage information and service details.

CommunityNet II will provide high speed Internet access to a minimum of 71 communities in the province, and the surrounding areas. All existing CommunityNet locations with a population over 100 and a school previously served by SCN's satellite technology will benefit from this program. In addition, the majority of communities with populations greater than 200 will also benefit from CommunityNet II. Upon completion of this program more than 86 per cent of the Saskatchewan population will have access to this valuable educational, communications and entertainment service.

Since 2000, the implementation of CommunityNet has been an unqualified success. The province-wide initiative has provided high speed Internet access to public institutions in 366 communities, linking more than 834 educational facilities, 310 health facilities, 86 First Nations schools, 256 government offices and 162 libraries.

Customers in the Hodgeville area can also expect improved digital cellular coverage in town and along Highways 19 and 363.

"SaskTel remains committed to expanding and improving digital cellular service in this province," Higgins said. "These latest initiatives are part of SaskTel's ongoing expansion which will bring SaskTel's total investment in digital cellular service since 1998 to $127 million."

"SaskTel understands that reliable coverage is critical for many of our customers and digital service with 1X functionality improves call clarity, enhances privacy and provides wireless customers with access to e-mail, corporate databases and the Internet," SaskTel president and CEO Robert Watson said. "We will continue to evaluate the network to provide our cellular customers with the latest wireless technologies over the largest wireless network in the province."

SaskTel has the most extensive cellular network in Saskatchewan. Digital and 1X cellular service provides advanced functionality that allows customers to use the newest and most innovative services such as sending and receiving text, picture and video messages, communicating via push-to-talk service, browsing the Internet, downloading video clips, watching streaming video, performing banking transactions and accessing real-time information such as news, weather and stock quotes all from their cell phone.

About SaskTel

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, offering competitive voice, data, dial-up and high speed Internet, entertainment and multimedia services, security, web hosting, text and messaging services, and cellular and wireless data services over its digital networks. The Corporation also provides security monitoring services through SecurTek, directory services through DirectWest, in-room communications services to the healthcare sector through Hospitality Network, telecommunications consulting service through SaskTel International and an out-of-province sales and service channel in Alberta and British Columbia. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 5,100 full-time, part-time and temporary employees. Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

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For more information, contact:

Andy Tate
SaskTel
Regina
Phone: 306-777-4548
Email: andy.tate@sasktel.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-1226