SaskTel said that that new 5G lab will be powered by technology provided by Samsung

Canadian operator SaskTel, Samsung Canada and Innovation Saskatchewan announced the launch of what they say is the first 5G innovation lab in Canada’s Saskatchewan province.

In a release, Samsung said that the SaskTel 5G Innovation Lab is designed and equipped to provide local businesses, university students, researchers and other innovators with the tools and facilities to take advantage of the full potential of 5G technology and develop innovative solutions with the aim of improving communication and connectivity across Saskatchewan.

“There are significant economic opportunities and social benefits that advanced communications networks and technologies can deliver to people in communities across our Province,” said Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan. “These labs are a critical resource for local innovators, providing them with the means to fully leverage advanced wireless technologies and develop innovative solutions. Access to the latest high quality 5G services will play an important role in connecting our province and accelerating Saskatchewan’s economic growth.”

The 5G Innovation Labs are located at the Collider co-working spaces in Saskatoon and Regina, part of the Innovation Place research and technology parks, Samsung said.

Kari Harvey, CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, said: “This collaboration between industry and government shows the province’s commitment to ensuring the competitiveness of our tech sector and expanding opportunities through our evolving innovation corridor.”

The 5G Labs will benefit the province’s core industries like agriculture, mining and health care as well as Internet of Things (IoT) companies that rely on the advantages of a 5G network.

“We live in a wireless world where everything from business to government, education to healthcare, financial transactions to social interactions are reliant on the wireless networks and technologies that connect us to people and resources all over the world,” said Charlene Gavel, SaskTel President and CEO. “I want to thank both Samsung and Innovation Saskatchewan for partnering with us to bring these labs from concept to reality and we’re excited to launch the labs so that we can start pushing the boundaries of 5G technology to create a more connected future for our province.”

Initially launched in late 2021, SaskTel’s 5G network currently has more than 520 cell sites and covers nearly 85% of the provincial population.

In 2021, SaskTel had selected Samsung as the sole vendor to supply the company with its 4G/5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and Core.

Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung supplied all hardware, software and other services for the deployment of an end-to-end 5G solution.

SaskTel is a Canadian crown-owned telecommunications firm based in the province of Saskatchewan.