Bridging the Digital Divide

As one of the world’s largest communications companies, Huawei is committed to ensuring that people in every corner of the globe have access to communications technologies. Globally, through our “Bridging the Digital Divide” strategy, we strive to enable more people to access information by providing customized ICT solutions; to support and develop telecom networks at regional and national levels; and to nurture and support education in telecom technologies in underdeveloped or outlying regions. In Canada, we’re committed to working with our operator customers to ensure Canadians in rural, remote and northern communities have access to the same communications technologies as Canadians in larger urban areas.

In January of 2016, in partnership with SaskTel and the Athabasca Basin Development Corporation, cellular service was initiated to the remote First Nations communities of Black Lake and Stony Rapids.   This was the completion of a 3-year development project that saw additional services provided to the Northern Saskatchewan communities of Wollaston Lake and Fond du Lac.  It was a remarkable engineering achievement, and has reinforced the value of communications technology as a critical resource and enabler for remote communities.  Huawei was proud to donate the base station equipment for these new tower projects

To learn more about our partnership with SaskTel in bringing wireless to the Northern communities of Saskatchewan, check out our video above. 

“There is incredible potential for business and economic development in the Athabasca region, but one of the most significant challenges for the remote area is accessibility,” says Geoff Gay, CEO of Athabasca Basin Development. “These cell phone towers will greatly increase connectivity, which leads to so many benefits for the people and business climate in the region. This contribution gives us an opportunity to do something that will make a real and lasting impact on the Athabasca communities, and we are very pleased to be a partner in this exciting initiative for Saskatchewan’s north.”

In July 2014, the first of the new cellular sites supporting these new services was brought online to coincide with the popular Back to Batoche festival. The festival is the largest cultural event for the Métis Nation in North America. This new service will support the communities of St. Isidore-de-Bellevue First Nation, One Arrow First Nation, Batoche, and surrounding residents, providing significant economic benefits to the region.

Huawei is proud to have contributed to the long term success of this significant cultural gathering of the Métis people.