By Angela Brown

North Battleford on the list for faster Internet

Oct 17, 2017 | 8:00 AM

While the date hasn’t been set yet, North Battleford will be joining other communities in the province on the list to receive new fibre optic technology so residents can enjoy faster Internet service.

Sasktel refers to the new technology as “infiNET.” 

Greg Jacobs, Sasktel’s Regina-based spokesperson, said the company plans to upgrade infrastructure in nine major communities throughout the province to accommodate the new fibre cabling.

“Customers can have more than 10 times or 20 times the speeds with infiNET than their average connection right now,” he said.

With the advanced technology, a homeowner can have up to seven televisions in their home and a computer all under one Internet connection. 

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Sasktel announced it is investing $1.4 billion across Saskatchewan through to 2021 in its Dec. 2016 report, when it announced construction to install the fibre optic system would begin in the Spring of 2017.

In the fibre optic system, specialized cables carry data through pulses of light passing along strands, while the existing technology uses copper wiring instead.

“Years ago when we decided to go about the project, we knew we needed to upgrade the infrastructure in order to be able to provide the residents of Saskatchewan with next-generation services,” Jacobs said. “With the saturation and explosion of Internet service and Internet use, it was apparent we are going to need to have faster services because everything seems to be moving that way. This fibre optic service allows us to provide that next level of service to customers so they can experience as much benefit from their Internet and entertainment connection as possible.”

So far, Sasktel started installing the new fibre optic system in Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current, Estevan, Weyburn, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and Yorkton. North Battleford will follow at some point.

“Because Saskatchewan is impacted by winter weather for a good portion of the year, it’s difficult to say on an exact time frame when the whole program will be done,” Jacobs said. “It’s a very construction intensive project.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow