SaskTel announced plans Wednesday to increase its investment in the provincial government’s Wireless Saskatchewan Initiative by more than $70 million.

The additional funding will allow for the construction of 74 new macro cell towers in under served rural and resort communities by the summer of 2021.

Minister Responsible for SaskTel, Don Morgan says it’s a top priority to enhance access to communications services in rural Saskatchewan, and the 74 new towers are a huge step in accomplishing that.

Dating back to 2017, Wireless Saskatchewan is a multi-phase initiative aimed at increasing connectivity in rural Saskatchewan, it is estimated that by program completion, SaskTel will approximately 1,000 cell towers around the province.