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SaskTel to upgrade 43 rural Sask. communities cell and Internet coverage

Click to play video: 'SaskTel speeding up Internet in 43 rural communities'
SaskTel speeding up Internet in 43 rural communities
WATCH ABOVE: Over the next several months SaskTel will be working to speed up internet and cellular service in rural communities. – Jul 4, 2018

Lang, Sask. isn’t a ‘dead zone’ but residents deal with spotty cell service and slow Internet. However, this won’t be the story for much longer.

In a matter of months upgrades will be made that see Lang and 42 other rural communities get up to speed.

It’s part of SaskTel’s plan to improve 4G LTE cell services in 100 rural communities throughout the province. Forty-three communities have been selected to have towers put up by the end of March, 2019.

“We are building a new micro cell tower and they are new constructions so that is why it will take us until march to complete these first 43 towers,” SaskTel communication director Michelle Englot said.

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Lang residents welcome the upgrades.

“Anything will help, the internet is weak no doubt about it and the cell service here is sketchy sometimes,” resident David Dyck said.

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“Just in case I get in an accident, I need to call for help somehow. So the service would be nice,” resident Cassidy Hollinger said.

This is phase two of the Saskatchewan government’s four phase initiative to give reliable cell and high speed Internet services to rural Saskatchewan.

“Our government understands that having access to fast and reliable communications services are vital in today’s digital world,” Minister responsible for SaskTel Don Morgan said.

“This most recent round of wireless upgrades from SaskTel will greatly benefit many residents, farms and businesses who call rural Saskatchewan home.”

Other communities among the the first 43 include Lake Lenore, Theodore, Mortlach and Zenon Park. The full list can be downloaded here.

Details on when the remaining 57 locations will get upgrades haven’t been release yet, but Englot said it won’t be long after the first set of upgrades.

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