SASKTEL EXTENDS 3G+ WIRELESS COVERAGE TO 36 MORE LOCATIONS

SaskTel has expanded its 3G+ wireless network to 36 more locations across the province of Saskatchewan.

"Construction of the 3G+ network is a significant development for SaskTel and its customers in Saskatchewan," Minister responsible for SaskTel Bill Boyd said. "When the network is complete in 2011 it will be available to 98 per cent of the population."

"Our 3G+ wireless network delivers increased bandwidth, greater international roaming and a wider selection of wireless devices," SaskTel President and CEO Ron Styles said. "3G+ is the new industry standard and will enable SaskTel to make a smooth transition to future generations of wireless technology."

The 36 tower locations, along with 3G+ coverage details are:

• Birch Hills Rural: provides coverage to the area southeast of Prince Albert including Muskoday First Nation.
• Bredenbury: provides coverage to the town of Bredenbury and the surrounding area including highway 16 southeast of Yorkton.
• Chitek Lake: provides 3G+ and improves CDMA coverage to the cottage community of Chitek Lake and the First Nations community of Chitek Lake 191 as well as highway 24 toward Leoville.
• Cloan North: provides coverage to the area southwest of North Battleford including highway 29 between North Battleford and Wilkie.
• Corning: provides coverage to the oil and gas area north of Stoughton including highway 47.
• Crestwynd: provides coverage to the area southwest of Moose Jaw including highways 2 and 36.
• Dafoe: provides coverage to the area west of Wynyard including the junction of highways 6 and 16.
• Eston: provides coverage to the town of Eston and the surrounding area including highways 30 and 44.
• Fort à la Corne: provides coverage to the diamond mining area northwest of Melfort, including coverage for James Smith Cree Nation.
• Greenwater Lake: provides coverage to Greenwater Lake Provincial Park and along highway 38.
• Griffin: provides coverage to the area between Stoughton and Weyburn including highway 13.
• Kinistino: provides coverage to the town of Kinistino and the surrounding area including highway 3.
• Lake Alma: provides coverage to the town of Lake Alma and the surrounding area including highways 18 and 28.
• Leader: provides coverage to the town of Leader and the surrounding area including highways 21 and 32.
• Leoville: provides coverage to the town of Leoville and the surrounding area including highway 24 north of Spiritwood.
• Maryfield: provides coverage to the town of Maryfield and the surrounding area including highways 8 and 48.
• Melfort: improves coverage in Melfort and the surrounding area including highways 3, 6 and 41.
• Ormiston: provides coverage to the Ormiston area including highway 36.
• Outram: provides coverage southwest of Estevan including highway 18.
• Peebles: provides coverage to area between Glenavon and Peebles including highways 47 and 48.
• Pierceland: provides coverage to the town of Pierceland and the surrounding area including highways 21 and 55.
• Prairie River: provides coverage to the area west of Hudson Bay including highway 3.
• Radville Rural: provides coverage to the area south of Radville including highway 28 toward Lake Alma.
• Regina Mount Royal: temporary tower site provides 3G+ and improves CDMA coverage in the Mount Royal area of Regina. A permanent site is under construction nearby.
• Saltcoats: provides coverage in the town of Saltcoats and the surrounding area including highway 16 southeast of Yorkton.
• Saskatoon Blairmore: improves both 3G+ and CDMA coverage in the western portion of Saskatoon.
• Saskatoon Hampton Village: improves coverage in the northwest portion of Saskatoon.
• Saskatoon Stonebridge: improves coverage in the Stonebridge and Willows areas of Saskatoon.
• Silver Park: provides coverage in the town of Silver Park and the surrounding area including highway 6 south of Melfort.
• Spiritwood: provides coverage to the town of Spiritwood and the surrounding area including highways 3, 24 and 378.
• Storthoaks: provides coverage to the area north of Gainsborough including highway 8.
• Strongfield: provides coverage to the town of Strongfield and the area north of Elbow including highway 19.
• Wakaw: provides coverage to the town of Wakaw and the surrounding area including highways 2 and 41.
• Watson: provides coverage to the town of Watson and the surrounding area including highways 5 and 6.
• Yellow Creek: provides coverage to the area along highway 41 between Melfort and Wakaw.
• Young: provides coverage to the town of Young and the surrounding area including highway 2.

The 3G+ network provides increased bandwidth with download speeds approximately four times faster than existing speeds (up to 21 megabits per second). It is also compatible with approximately 80 per cent of all networks across the world and international roaming customers will be able to use their SaskTel 3G+ device on 3G+ networks anywhere.

The current SaskTel 3G+ device line-up includes:

• BlackBerry® Torch^TM 9800
• BlackBerry® Bold^TM 9780
• BlackBerry® Bold^TM 9700
• BlackBerry® Curve^TM 9300
• BlackBerry® Pearl^TM 9100
• LG Optimus Quantum^TM (coming soon)
• LG Rumour Plus^TM
• LG Flick^TM
• Nokia C6
• Nokia 7230 
• Nokia 6350 
• Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant^TM
• Samsung Gravity Touch
• Samsung Gravity® 3
• Samsung Rugby^TM II
• Novatel MC998D Mobile Internet Stick
• Novatel Mi-Fi 2372 Mobile Hotspot

SaskTel plans to support the existing CDMA digital network for the foreseeable future to ensure that all wireless customers continue to enjoy a full selection of wireless services that best suit their needs. Customers can now choose from a wide range of devices for both the existing CDMA network and the new 3G+ network.

About SaskTel

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, with $1.15 billion in annual revenue and more than 1.4 million customer connections including more than 560,000 wireless accesses, 543,000 wireline network accesses, 225,000 Internet accesses and 83,000 Max^TM (TV) subscribers. SaskTel offers a wide range of communications products and services including competitive voice, data, Internet, entertainment, national security, messaging, cellular, wireless data and directory services. In addition, SaskTel International offers software solutions and project consulting in countries around the world. In 2009, SaskTel contributed more than $651 million to the Saskatchewan economy through dollars spent with Saskatchewan-based suppliers and sponsorships to non-profit organizations. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,800 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