- Samsung’s containerised core solution will support SaskTel’s 3.5 GHz and 3.8 GHz spectrum bands and pave the way for a 5G Standalone rollout.
- The upgrade comes as SaskTel’s 5G network already covers nearly 90 per cent of the province’s population.
What happened: SaskTel advances network modernisation with Samsung’s cloud-native core rollout
SaskTel, the provincially-owned Canadian operator, has begun rolling out Samsung Canada’s cloud-native 4G and 5G core network across its operations in Saskatchewan. The solution uses a virtualised, containerised architecture that transforms the legacy telecom core into a flexible, software-defined platform. According to the company, this allows improved automation from deployment through to lifecycle management of network functions.
SaskTel said the core upgrade will work in concert with its 3,500 MHz and 3,800 MHz spectrum bands, delivering improved speeds and reduced latency for both 4G and 5G users. The operator’s 5G coverage already reaches roughly 90 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population.
Looking ahead, SaskTel plans to adopt Samsung’s 5G Standalone (SA) core—the next phase of its network modernisation.
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Why it’s important
The deployment marks a significant shift in how SaskTel will manage its network infrastructure. By moving to a cloud-native core, the operator gains more agility in launching new services, scaling capacity and managing resources—capabilities increasingly important as both consumer and industrial connectivity demands rise. For users, the upgrade promises faster data speeds, lower latency and more reliable voice and messaging performance. This will be particularly relevant for applications such as immersive gaming, virtual healthcare and IoT services, which demand stable, high-performance connectivity.
In the competitive Canadian market, smaller regional players like SaskTel must modernise aggressively to keep pace with national carriers. This investment strengthens SaskTel’s position within Saskatchewan and prepares it for future 5G advancements. Finally, the move reflects a broader industry trend: telecom networks are becoming software-defined, modular and cloud-based, allowing operators to innovate more rapidly and adapt to evolving market needs. With its 5G SA roadmap on the horizon, SaskTel is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation connectivity.
