Jun 10, 2011 17:31 GMT  ·  By

Regional carrier SaskTel, the only remaining Crown corporation in the Canadian telecom industry has just announced that it has expanded its 4G wireless network to 15 more locations across the province of Saskatchewan.

According to the small carrier, the 4G network upgrade will provide increased bandwidth with download speeds approximately 4 times faster than existing speeds and will be completed by the end of summer in Regina and Saskatoon.

In addition, the 4G network will be compatible with approximately 80% of all networks across the world and international roaming customers will be able to use their SaskTel 4G device on 4G networks anywhere.

Construction of the 4G network is a significant development for SaskTel and its customers in Saskatchewan. SaskTel 4G wireless coverage is already available to more than 98% of the population,” said Bill Boyd, Minister Responsible for SaskTel.

The 15 tower locations, include: Antler, Archerwill, Arelee, Belbutte, Bjorkdale, Crooked River, Hubbard, Hudson Bay, Lestock, Missinipe, Montreal Lake, Rose Valley, Spy Hill, Stanley Mission and Wishart.

SaskTel customers have a wide range of 4G devices at their disposal, including Apple iPhone 4, BlackBerry Torch 9800, BlackBerry Bold 9780, HTC Incredible S, LG Optimus Quantum, LG Rumour Plus, LG Flick, Nokia C6, Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant, Novatel MC998D Mobile Internet Stick and Novatel Mi-Fi 2372 Mobile Hotspot.

Our 4G wireless network delivers increased bandwidth, greater international roaming and a wider selection of wireless devices. 4G is the new industry standard and will enable SaskTel to make a smooth transition to future generations of wireless technology,” said Ron Styles, SaskTel president and CEO.

The carrier also stated that it would continue to support its existing CDMA network and add more CDMA compatible device to its portfolio, so customers can choose from a wide range of devices for both the existing CDMA network and the new 4G network.