Overview of SaskTel
SaskTel is a provincially owned telecommunications company in Saskatchewan, Canada, fully owned by the provincial government, and is the only provincial crown telecommunications company in Canada. SaskTel has a history of over 100 years and provides a full range of services including wireless, cable TV, internet, and landline services to residents and businesses in Saskatchewan. The company's headquarters is located in Regina, with about 3,200 full-time employees, making it one of the largest employers in Saskatchewan.
SaskTel has extensive network coverage within the province, including sparsely populated rural areas. In 2024, it had about 680,000 wireless users and about 210,000 fiber users, with 5G network coverage for 88% of users in the province. As a crown corporation, SaskTel turns its profits over to the provincial treasury and fulfills universal service obligations, ensuring telecommunications services are available in rural and remote areas.
SaskTel facts
- Founded: 1908 (more than 100 years of history)
- Headquarters: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Ownership: Wholly owned by the Government of Saskatchewan
- Wireless users: About 679,000 (2024, up 2.3% year-on-year)
- Broadband users: About 231,000
- Fiber users: About 210,000 (up 11.7% year-on-year)
- Landline users: About 109,000
- 5G coverage: 88% of users in the province (June 2024)
- Employees: About 3,200 full-time
- Annual revenue: About CAD 1.365 billion (FY 2024/25)
Development History and Milestones
The history of SaskTel dates back to 1908, when the government of Saskatchewan established a provincial telephone company aimed at providing telephone services across the province, including remote rural areas. This was an early practice of nationalization in Canadian telecommunications history. Over more than a century, SaskTel has continuously introduced new technologies: from rotary dial telephones to digital exchanges, from analog cellular to 4G LTE, and now to 5G networks.
In the 1990s, SaskTel launched its wireless service brand, SaskTel Mobility. In the 2000s, it deployed a 3G network, and in the 2010s, it commercialized 4G LTE. In the 2020s, SaskTel actively promoted 5G deployment, covering 88% of users in the province as of June 2024. The company also operates SaskTel International, providing consulting and managed services to other operators. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, SaskTel's revenue was approximately CAD 1.365 billion, with a net income of about CAD 82.2 million.
Core Technical Capabilities
Universal Service
State-owned mission to ensure telecommunications coverage in rural and remote areas
5G Deployment
5G covers 88% of users in the province, with continuous expansion
Fiber Network
Rapid growth of fiber users supports high-bandwidth demand
Local Services
Retail stores and local support in communities across the province
Network standards and coverage
| Technology | Coverage | Typical use | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | Province-wide coverage | Mainstream mobile and IoT | Primary network |
| 5G NR | 88% of users within the province | High-speed broadband and IoT | Still expanding |
| Fiber Optics | Major towns | Home and business broadband | Users growing quickly |
| Cable TV | Entire province | Home entertainment | Legacy service |
IoT applications
Smart Agriculture
- Farm sensors in Saskatchewan, a major agricultural province
- Irrigation and weather monitoring
- Livestock tracking
- Connectivity for farm machinery
Energy and Mining
- Monitoring of potash mines and oil and gas fields
- Remote equipment management
- Environmental sensors
- Safety alarms
Utilities
- Smart meter reading
- Remote water-meter reading
- Municipal facility monitoring
- Street-light control
Rural Connectivity
- Broadband in remote areas
- Connectivity for family farms
- Schools and healthcare
- Emergency communications
Competitive Advantages
- Public mandate: A universal-service duty, so rural coverage is not set only by commercial return
- Provincial lead: The largest operator in Saskatchewan, with strong brand loyalty
- 5G reach: 5G for 88% of users in the province, with rural 5G deployed early
- Fiber growth: Fiber users up 11.7% year on year, for higher-bandwidth demand
- Local employment: 3,200 employees, one of the largest employers in the province
Finance and Operations
In FY2024/25, SaskTel revenue was about CAD 1.365 billion, and net income was about CAD 82.2 million. Net income in FY2023/24 was CAD 95.4 million. Profit goes to the provincial treasury and supports public services in the province. SaskTel is still investing in 5G and fiber. Broadband users fell 6% year on year, and the company is answering that with fiber and 5G fixed wireless.