SaskTel

Infobox Company |
company_name = SaskTel
company_
company_type = Crown corporation
foundation = June 12, 1908
location = Regina, Saskatchewan
key_people = Hon. Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Crown Corporations
Robert Watson, CEO
Grant Kook, Chairperson
industry = Telecommunications
products =
revenue = gain $1,009.6 million cite web|url=http://www.sasktel.com/about-us/company-information/financial-reports/index.html|title=SaskTel 2006 Annual Report|accessdate=2007-07-10]
(gain of $30.8 million from 2005)
operating_income =
net_income = gain $72.5 million
(gain of $8.1 million from 2005)
num_employees = 5,100
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.sasktel.com/ www.sasktel.com]

Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) is a provincial Crown Corporation operating under the authority of the Saskatchewan Telecommunications Act.

SaskTel provides telecommunications services to 13 cities, 535 smaller communities and surrounding rural areas, including 49,000 farms. The corporation has over 425,000 business and residential customers, and has a work force of approximately 5100 employees throughout the province and in its wholly owned subsidiaries. SaskTel's head office is located at 2121 Saskatchewan Drive in downtown Regina, Saskatchewan.

SaskTel is the primary asset and wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company, the Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation, which manages assets of approximately $1.2 billion. In 2007, SaskTel was named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, as published in Maclean's magazine, the only telecommunications company to receive this honour. [cite web|url=http://www.eluta.ca/einfo?en=SaskTel&ri=1d92edbacb3a24a42824d1287e3026cb&rk=782225401cfa859301f082f420ea8964|title=Reasons for Selection, 2007 Canada's Top 100 Employers]

While SaskTel oversees the corporation's core telecommunications business, the following business units have diversified into other services, products, and markets:
* SaskTel Mobility provides cellular, wireless data, and wireless internet services.
* SecurTek provides home and business security systems and monitoring.
* SaskTel International exports network integration, network management, and interactive services outside of Canada.
* Hospitality Network Canada Inc. (HNCI) is a provider of hospital patient TV and Telephone rental systems and services.
* Direct West publishes print and online directories and provides Web Hosting and Website Design services.

SaskTel delivers its communication services over a digital, fibre optic-based network.

SaskTel Mobility delivers its cellular communication services over the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

SaskTel Mobility is in the process of updating their cellular communication services to EV-DO Rev A enhancement. EV-DO technology enables a host of wireless data services, including web browsing, content downloads and video streaming. This expansion is part of an $11.3 million project to expand or improve EV-DO service in 64 locations across the province by the end of 2008.

ervices

* Local Telephone Service
* Internet and Interactive Services
* Digital TV (SaskTel Max), including high-definition, and DTVR
* Cellular Phones
* Wireless Data Services
* Wireless Internet
* Telephone and Equipment Rental
* Calling Features and Cards
* Voice Messaging
* Long Distance Plans
* Conferencing Services
* Home and Business Security
* Voice Over IP (VoIP)
* International Consulting, Provisioning, and Software Solutions
* FleetNet 800
* Web Hosting and Website Design
* Print and Online Directories

History

SaskTel, known from 1947 to the 1980s as Saskatchewan Government Telephones, has its origin in the Department of Railways, Telegraphs and Telephones, which was established on June 12, 1908. On October 1, 1909, the Department expanded its system by purchasing the Bell Telephone Company, the Saskatchewan Telephone Company, and the Wapella-Harris Telephone Company. The newly acquired facilities consisted of 18 telephone exchanges, 53 long-distance offices, and 492 pole miles of long-distance lines. Among the telephone exchanges purchased were those in Estevan, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, and Regina. In 1911, the Department expanded further with the purchases of Saltcoats District Telephone Company, the North-Western Telephone Company (Saskatoon), and the Swift Current System. On December 1, 1912, Yorkton was added to the provincial telephone system with the purchase of the North West Electric Company.

Technological and service advances

* In 1984, SaskTel completed the world's longest commercial fibre optic system, 3,268 kilometres.cite web|url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/sasktel_fibre_optics.html|title=SaskTel Fibre Optics", Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan|accessdate=2008-02-04]
* In 1988, it developed the first fibre/coaxial hybrid network with pick-and-play Video-On-Demand.cite web|url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/sasktel_fibre_optics.html|title=SaskTel Fibre Optics", Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan|accessdate=2008-02-04]
* In 1994, it completed the installation and commissioning of telecommunications and control systems for the English Chunnel project.cite web|url=http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/telecommunications.html|title=Telecommunications", Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan|accessdate=2008-02-04]
* In 2002, it was the first to deploy Internet Protocol (IP) video over digital subscriber line (DSL).cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_April_10/ai_84632001|title=Lucent Technologies Introduces First Commercial IP Video Over DSL Solution", Business Net |accessdate=2008-02-04]

References

External links

* [http://www.sasktel.com SaskTel]