So far, SaskPower has upgraded more than 2,000 poles in over 100 communities across the province. (File photo/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

upcoming work

SaskPower replacing, reinforcing 158 poles as part of SaskTel infiNET expansion

Dec 3, 2024 | 3:48 PM

SaskPower is working to replace 97 poles and reinforce 61 existing ones in the tri-communities by the end of July 2025.

That’s according to SaskPower spokesperson Scott McGregor, who explained the work is part of the Crown corporation’s Joint Use Upgrade Program in partnership with SaskTel. The company plans to expand its infiNET (fiber optic internet) service throughout the tri-communities.

The work began Nov. 1 and, in the next seven months, residents can expect brief planned power outages because of it.

“We let SaskTel use some of our poles to run some of their infrastructure on, and sometimes we have to reinforce the poles, and sometimes the poles are sturdy enough and they can handle it,” McGregor said.

So far, SaskPower has upgraded more than 2,000 poles in over 100 communities across the province. In addition to planned power outages, residents may also experience construction noise and road restrictions while the work is underway. Disruptions will be kept to a minimum and communicated in advance.

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The SaskTel infiNET fibre optic network replacement is a multi-year initiative that will replace the current copper-based network. SaskTel is investing more than $280 million to bring infiNET to over 200 rural communities by the end of 2027.

SaskTel’s infiNET service delivers Internet speeds reaching close to a gigabit per second.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com