Phone lines are expected to be very busy this Christmas Day, with SaskTel projecting that its customers will make approximately 750,000 long distance calls.

     This increase in long distance calling during the holidays may result in some network congestion.  Customers can minimize any inconvenience by remembering a few tips.

     Andy Tate with SaskTel Media Relations says avoiding the busy hours of 10am to 2pm, and 7pm to 10pm would be very helpful.  He adds, other tips are to place direct-dialed calls instead of Operator-assisted ones, verify the phone number before calling, and take time zones into consideration.

     Tate adds that about 42% of all calls made on Christmas Day are expected to go to locations within Saskatchewan.