Sasktel Adopts ADSL-2+ Strategy

Sasktel is the incumbent carrier in Saskatchewan, Canada. It has been offering its Max IPTV service since September 2002, which makes it one of the real pioneers. It is currently upgrading its network to provide 28 Mbps to each home using two pairs per home and ADSL-2+. It supports up to four TVs in each home including one HD stream along with a 5 Mbps data service.

Sasktel's IPTV Vendors include:

• Alcatel-Lucent DSLAMs
• Tandberg video headend
• Harmonic video headend
• Alcatel middleware
• Kasenna video on demand servers
• Widevine content protection/digital rights management
• Pace set-top boxes
• Motorola set-top boxes
  

SaskTel plans to invest $118 million U.S. in 2007 and $267 million U.S. over the next five years to install remote systems to bring its home within range of its ADSL-2+ service by reducing the maximum loop length from 2.5 km. to 900 m.

Sasktel had 51 thousand subscribers at the end of 2006 out of 225 thousand homes passed. This is 23 percent penetration in a market with strong competition from Shaw Cable.

Sasktel has enjoyed steady progress with its IPTV offering. This upgrade will keep it competitive by permitting it to support HD and more TVs in the home. It is also interesting that Sasktel chose ADSL-2+ technology with two lines per subscriber. This provides longer loop lengths and is probably significantly less costly than VDSL because fewer remotes are required and because there is probably not that much difference in cost between two ADSL-2+ interfaces and one VDSL interface.