SaskTel will be part of a federal government program that is trying to bring high-speed internet to low-income seniors. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Better Internet For Seniors

SaskTel offering subsidized high-speed internet to low-income families, seniors.

Aug 17, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Thousands of low-income seniors and families in Saskatchewan will have subsidized accessed to high speed internet as SaskTel continues a partnership with the federal government.

The crown corporation announced yesterday this was part of the second phase of the Connecting Families Initiative.

During this phase of Connecting Families, SaskTel will offer eligible customers infiNET 60 which comes with 60 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload speeds and unlimited monthly data for $20 per month.

“This is actually a federally initiated program that began in 2018,” said SaskTel external communications manager Greg Jacobs. “Originally when it came out it was the initial phase. Its only primarily focused on low-income families, those who received the maximum Canadian Child Care Benefit.”

Now, according to Jacobs, the focus has begun to shift to seniors. During the pandemic, connecting seniors to high-speed internet became a priority as for many this was the only way they could remain in touch with their families.

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“We’ve always understood how important it (high speed internet) is in the modern world,” Jacobs said. “It’s become a realization for everyone else, and then the pandemic really shone a bright spotlight on it. I think everyone is sort of catching up as to how critical this piece of infrastructure is. We’ve been investing heavily to expand infiNET further prior to the pandemic starting in 2019.”

Because infiNET requires fiber optic connection, not every home in Saskatchewan has these available. For those customers, Jacobs recommended seeing if other service providers are engaged in the Connecting Families program as well.

“With the revised parameters of the program, Connecting Families, we have to offer a broadband connection of 50/10; 50 megabits per second download and ten megabits per second upload speed. We can do that on our fiber network, so we’re offering this program anywhere we offer infiNET.”

SaskTel is spending $50 million more to expand infiNET on top of the $50 million they spent in 2019, which would make the program more available to seniors living in more remote parts of the province.

“Our government recognizes the important role internet services play in the modern world, and support SaskTel’s continued participation in the Connecting Families program,” said minister responsible for SGI Don Morgan.

Jacobs added anyone with questions about the program can find the Connecting Families page on the federal government’s website. He also said details of when customers will become eligible and how they can apply are still being worked out.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP