SASKTEL 3G+ COVERAGE FOR 33 MORE LOCATIONS

SaskTel has expanded its 3G+ wireless network to 33 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 33 tower locations, along with 3G+ coverage details, are:

• Avonlea: provides coverage to the town of Avonlea and the surrounding area.
• Battle River, Marsden and Grass Lake: provides coverage to the oil patch region southeast of Lloydminster.
• Biggar: provides coverage to the town of Biggar and the surrounding area.
• Blaine Lake: provides coverage to the town of Blaine Lake and along Highway 12 north of Hepburn.
• Dorintosh and Goodsoil: provides coverage to the towns of Dorintosh and Goodsoil and the surrounding areas including the entrance to Meadow Lake Provincial Park.
• Dysart and Southey: provides coverage to the towns of Dysart and Southey and their surrounding areas.
• Eatonia: provides coverage to the town of Eatonia and the area southwest of Kindersley including Highway 44.
• Farrerdale: provides coverage on Highway 15 east of Kenaston.
• Greenstreet and Englishman Lake: provides coverage to the oil patch region northeast of Lloydminster.
• Imperial and Nokomis: provides coverage to the towns of Imperial and Nokomis and the surrounding areas including Highway 2 and Highway 20.
• Kawacatoose and Gordon 86: provides coverage to Kawacatoose and Gordon 86 First Nations and their surrounding areas.
• Kronau and Vibank: provides coverage to the towns of Vibank and Kronau and along Highway 48 and Highway 33 southeast of Regina.
• Kyle and Stewart Valley: provides coverage to the area north of Swift Current including Highway 4, Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park and the town of Kyle.
• Loon Lake and Loon Lake Rural: provides coverage to the town of Loon Lake and the surrounding area including Highway 26 and Highway 304.
• Meath Park: provides coverage to the area northeast of Prince Albert that includes the town of Meath Park and Highways 55, 120 and 355.
• Milden: provides coverage to the area southeast of Rosetown.
• Montmartre: provides coverage to the town of Montmartre and along Highway 48.
• Stoughton: provides coverage to the town of Stoughton and the surrounding area.
• Strasbourg: provides coverage to the town of Strasbourg and along Highway 20 northeast of Regina.
• St. Walburg and St. Walburg Rural: provides coverage to the town of St. Walburg and the surrounding area.
• Turtleford and Turtle Lake North: provides coverage to the town of Turtleford, along Highway 26 northwest of Edam, and along Highway 4 between Glaslyn and Meadow Lake.

The 3G+ network provides increased bandwidth with download speeds approximately 4 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 9800
• BlackBerry Bold 9700
• BlackBerry Curve 9300
• BlackBerry Pearl 9100
• Nokia 7230 
• Nokia 6350 
• Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant (ANDROID^TM) 
• Samsung Gravity Touch
• Samsung Gravity 3
• Novatel MC998D (Mobile Internet Stick)

SaskTel plans to support the existing Code Division Multiple Access (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 550,000 wireless accesses, 543,000 wireline network accesses, 225,000 Internet accesses and 77,000 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