SASKATCHEWAN! CONNECTED WIRELESS SERVICE AVAILABLE IN PRINCE ALBERT

Residents and visitors to Prince Albert's downtown business district can now access the Internet free-of-charge using the Saskatchewan! Connected wireless network. Regional Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Lon Borgerson made the announcement today in Prince Albert on behalf of Minister responsible for Information Technology Frank Quennell.

The Saskatchewan! Connected initiative offers users basic Internet service via a wireless Wi-Fi based network operated by the government Information Technology Office and designed and deployed by SaskTel using technology manufactured by Cisco, a worldwide leader in networking. The service will also be integrated into the existing wireless services available to students at the Woodlands campus of SIAST in Prince Albert.

"Saskatchewan! Connected will benefit businesses and visitors to our province, and builds on Saskatchewan's reputation for innovation and being in the forefront of technology advancement," Borgerson said. "By launching the largest free wireless network in Canada we are building upon our province's economic momentum."

Saskatchewan! Connected means users will no longer have to switch from service to service as they roam around the coverage area. It will also help to bridge the ‘digital divide' by providing no-cost Internet access to residents living in close proximity to Prince Albert's downtown core who may be unable to afford monthly rates for Internet services. Any existing desktop or laptop computer can be configured with a Wi-Fi adaptor for under $100 and then connected quickly and conveniently to the free service.

As a publicly-accessible network, special provisions have been made to prevent access to inappropriate materials.

The service is already available in select business districts of Moose Jaw and Regina, and will soon be available in Saskatoon.

The capital cost of installing the network in the four centres will be $1.3 million, with annual operating costs of $339,000.

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For more information, contact:

Richard Murray
Information Technology Office
Regina
Phone: 306-787-9586
Email: rmurray@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-536-4758