SASKTEL INTERNATIONAL WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR KAGERA PROJECT

November 20 2001

For its work in bringing telephone service to Northwest Tanzania, SaskTel International (SI) has received an award from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Canadian Manufactures and Exporters for Improvement of Physical or Social Infrastructure.

“This award belongs to all the men and women who worked so hard with SI in building a telecommunications network from the ground up in this rural, remote area of Tanzania,” said Garry Simons, President, SaskTel International. “I want to recognize the great contributions from all of SI’s partners in this project, including the Government of Canada through CIDA, the Tanzania Telecommunications Company, SRTelecom, LeBlanc Telecom and Lenbrook Industries.”

This CIDA funded project was valued at $6.0 million, and was completed well ahead of schedule and within the allocated budget. The result was more than 1,000 telephone lines installed in remote areas of Kagera that previously had poor or no telecommunications service. This network now links Kagera with other Tanzanian cities, and Internet access and international direct dialing are also now possible in the area for the first time.

“Basic phone service is something we often take for granted in Canada, but for the people of Kagera, it is a fundamental lifeline that is improving their quality of life and will enrich their nation for years to come,” said Simons.

Since 1986, SI has generated $430 million in revenue, with a net income of $149 million that has been brought back and invested in Saskatchewan people and projects. SI has recorded a profit for eight consecutive years.

SaskTel International provides engineering consulting, project management, and software solutions around the world. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SaskTel, the leading full service communications company in Saskatchewan, offering complete wireline, wireless, Internet and e-business solutions over a state-of-the-art, digital network. The web site for SaskTel International is www.sasktelinternational.com.