SaskTel cellular network customers in Yorkton, Cut Knife, Englishman Lake, Macklin and St. Walburg now have access to faster data speeds thanks to the new 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 Saskatchewan by the end of 2008.

“SaskTel’s
commitment to offering its customers world-class wireless services is
evident from this latest improvement,” said Ken Cheveldayoff, Crown
corporations minister. “This project will deliver improved wireless
data service to residents and businesses across the province to help
bring SaskTel’s total investment in digital cellular service to over
$170 million.”



“We will
continue to invest in our network to provide our customers with the
latest wireless technologies over the largest digital cellular network
in the province,” said SaskTel president and CEO, Robert Watson.



EV-DO
Rev A is a third-generation network technology available to Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular carriers that will support
peak average upload speeds ranging between 350 kbps and 550 kbps, and
peak average download speeds ranging between 2000 kbps and 2300 kbps.
To use EV-DO Rev A, the customer must be using a EV-DO Rev A-capable
device in EV-DO Rev A locations. When customers roam outside of the
EV-DO coverage area, their device will switch to 1X coverage
automatically. (SaskTel’s entire digital network has been enabled with
1X functionality since 2003.)