Canada's SaskTel announced the launch of its Rural Broadband Partnership Programme, an initiative to partner with smaller internet providers to bring advanced broadband connectivity to underserved farms, acreages, Indigenous communities and other hard to serve rural areas in Saskatchewan. Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel, stated: 'Maximising rural Saskatchewan's access to modern broadband internet is a key priority for our government. SaskTel's new partnership model will ensure that all Saskatchewan residents and businesses can participate and succeed in the modern world.'

SaskTel currently delivers broadband speeds that meet or exceed the national 50Mbps/10Mbps (down/upload) benchmark to 85% of the population of the province. Through its new partnership programme, SaskTel says it will work with internet providers to expand their coverage areas with the specific aim to bring 50Mbps/10Mbps unlimited-data-volume broadband services (or better) to more Saskatchewan households. H & K Rural Networks, Living Sky Internet and Wood River Controls are the first operators signed up to the project.

Thanks to TeleGeography for this industry update.