Backgrounder: Government of Canada to bring high-speed Internet access to Saskatchewan communities

Backgrounder

On June 3, 2024, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced funding for SaskTel as well as details of seven high-speed Internet projects and two mobile projects to improve connectivity in rural and remote communities across Saskatchewan. A commitment to connect many of these communities was announced in March 2023.

Here is an overview of Saskatchewan's connectivity status:

  • In 2017, 45.4% of Saskatchewan was connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 megabits per second [Mbps] download /10 Mbps upload).
  • Currently, 81.5% of Saskatchewan is connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload).
  • In 2026, 86.6% of Saskatchewan is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload).

The Government of Canada is improving access to high-speed Internet through $105 million in funding for three projects with SaskTel. A list of communities to be connected by these projects will be released at a later date.

Internet service provider Federal funding only Number of households to be covered Regions to benefit Technology Estimated completion date

SKCIC-00001

SaskTel

SKCIC-00002

SaskTel

SKCIC-00003
SaskTel

Up to

$105,000,000

Up to 5,700, of which up to approximately 4,300 are Indigenous

West Central and Northern Saskatchewan

Fibre and fixed wireless

March 2027

Specific communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to seven additional projects funded by the Government of Canada are as follows:

Internet service provider Federal funding only Number of households to be covered Regions to benefit Technology Estimated completion date

UBF-02083 Access Communications Co-operative Limited

$4,636,305

2,086, of which 15 are Indigenous

Rockglen, Fife Lake, Lisieux, Scout Lake, Coronach, Big Beaver, Bengough, Willow Bunch, Fairholme, Livelong, Turtle Lake South Bay, Kopp's Kove, Evergreen Acres, Sunset View Beach, Indian Point - Golden Sands, Turtle Lake Lodge, Horseshoe Bay, Kivimaa-Moonlight Bay, Powm Beach, Parkland Beach, Thunderchild First Nation No. 115C (Thunderchild First Nation)

Microwave backbone, Fibre and fixed wireless last mile

September 2026

UBF-03703 Advanced Interactive Inc. (Advintive)

$648,805

285 (all Indigenous)

Saulteaux, Moosomin

Fibre backbone, Fixed wireless last mile

August 2024

UBF-05002 BH Telecom Corp.

$10,534,784

2,144

Alta Vista, Arlington Beach, Grasswood, Dundurn, Floral, Colesdale Park, Duval, Etters Beach, Glen Harbour, Kannata Valley, Mohr's Beach, North Colesdale Park, Pelican Pointe, Island View, Saskatchewan Beach, Silton, Simpson, Sorenson's Beach, Spring Bay, Sunset Cove, Uhl's Bay

Fibre backbone, Fibre last mile

December 2025

UBF-07101 Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation and Sequorum Inc.

$189,422

45, of which

43 are Indigenous

Pheasant Rump Nakota No.68 (Pheasant Rump Nakota)

Microwave backbone, Fixed wireless last mile

December 2025

UBF-05024 Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC)

$5,295,000

2,500, of which

2,375 are Indigenous

Turnor Lake No. 193B (Birch Narrows First Nation), Clearwater River Dene Indian Reserve No. 222 (Clearwater River Dene), Eagles Lake No. 165C (Canoe Lake Cree First Nation), Canoe Lake No. 165 (Canoe Lake Cree First Nation), Buffalo River Dene Nation No. 193 (Buffalo River Dene Nation), La Plonge No. 192 (English River First Nation), Wapachewunak No. 192D (English River First Nation), Island Lake (Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation), Patuanak, St. George's Hill, Waterhen No. 130 (Waterhen Lake), Makwa Lake No. 129B (Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation), Flying Dust First Nation Reserve No. 105 (Flying Dust First Nation)

Microwave backbone, Fixed wireless last mile

March 2025

UBF-03501 SaskTel

$19,999,168

440, of which

285 are Indigenous

Deschambault Lake, Village of Ballantyne Bay, Tyrell Lake, Jan Lake

Fibre backbone, Fibre last mile

December 2026

UBF-03498
SaskTel

$2,151,762

536, of which

226 are Indigenous

Cumberland House, Cumberland House Cree Nation, Pemmican Portage

Fibre backbone, Fibre last mile

December 2026

The communities that will benefit from improved connectivity thanks to two mobile projects funded by the Government of Canada are as follows:

Internet service provider Federal funding only Number of kilometres to be covered Communities to benefit Technology Estimated completion date

UBF-03507
SaskTel

MOBILE

$1,755,000

76

Road 909 leading to Turnor Lake, as well as along

Highway 21 and Road 699 near Island Lake (Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation)

Birch Narrows First Nation,Island Lake (Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation),Turnor Lake

Fibre backbone, Mobile wireless last mile

March 2026

UBF-03506
SaskTel

MOBILE

$9,871,198

421

Primarily along Highway 106 (Hanson Lake Road) and a smaller stretch of Highway 120

Candle Lake, Minowukaw Beach, Deschambault Lake, Bosco, East Trout Lake, Little Bear Lake, Lower Fishing Lake, Jan Lake, Whiteswan Lake, Village of Ballantyne Bay, Birch Portage Indian Reserve No. 184A (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Waskwaynikapik Indian Reserve No. 228 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Nakiskatowaneek Indian Reserve No. 227 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Sandy Narrows No. 184C (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Kimosom Pwatinahk Indian Reserve No. 203 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Mistik (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Pisiwiminiwatim Indian Reserve No. 207 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation), Muskwaminiwatim Indian Reserve No. 225 (Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation)

Fibre and microwave backbone, Mobile wireless last mile

December 2026

Related Product

Canada is expanding high-speed Internet access in Saskatchewan

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