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 |
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 |
$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 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 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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