Fiber Broadband Association
Telecommunications
FC25 - Operator Light Talk: Lighting up Saskatchewan
At Fiber Connect 2025, Charlene Gavel, CEO of SaskTel, shared why the company is leading the charge to connect all 1.5 million rural and remote residents of Saskatchewan with fiber optic broadband.
Despite being one-tenth the size of Bell, Telus, or Rogers – SaskTel has already deployed over 21,100 miles of fiber across the province. The company has brought high-speed internet to more than 340 communities, many with fewer than 150 homes. Today, 77% of Saskatchewan’s homes and businesses have access to fast, future-ready fiber connectivity. SaskTel’s goal is to reach 90% fiber coverage across the province. For the remaining 10%, the company plans to deliver broadband through a robust fixed wireless network that leverages its existing fiber infrastructure for backhaul.
Gavel’s Light Talk illustrated that business cases for fiber goes beyond profitability and numbers. Today, fiber is fueling economic development, improving public safety, and expanding telehealth access for an aging population. It’s a technology that will improve lives for generations to come. By balancing profitability with social policy, SaskTel is helping to transform life across Saskatchewan and has built a business case that focuses on long-term goals, establishing a future that will benefit all Canadians.
This session was filmed live on the Main Stage at the premier fiber broadband event in North America, hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association.
Each year, Fiber Connect brings together the industry’s thought leaders, innovators, operators, and policymakers to accelerate the deployment of fiber broadband networks and transform communities across the country. Whether you're an operator, builder, investor, or vendor, the conversations happening here shape the future of connectivity.
🔗 Learn more about the Fiber Broadband Association:
https://www\.fiberbroadband\.org
📅 Save the date for Fiber Connect 2026
We're headed to Orlando! Mark your calendar now and stay updated here:
https://fiberbroadband\.org/event/fiber\-connect\-2026/
#FiberConnect2025 #FiberBroadband #MainStage #BroadbandInnovation #DigitalEquity
Source:
youtube.com
