Arctic Expansion: Building communication through infrastructure.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: Building Alaska

Arctic Alaska is renowned for its abundant wildlife, mountainous terrain, formidable weather, and isolated communities. Providing technology infrastructure in the region--which encompasses the North Slope Borough, the Northwest Arctic Borough, and the Nome Census Area--can be daunting.

Despite the logistical challenges, telecommunications companies Alaska Communications, Arctic Slope Telecom Association Cooperative (ASTAC), GCI, and Quintillion continue to enhance technology infrastructure in Arctic Alaska.

Alaska Communications Enhances Broadband

Alaska Communications has expanded its broadband offerings significantly to benefit rural Alaskans. According to a March news release, the company is providing new Internet connectivity that is allowing businesses in underserved areas to be more connected than ever before.

"Many businesses in the Arctic regions have offices in Anchorage and other metropolitan communities. Having access to competitive, high-speed broadband will allow them to connect without limits," Bill Bishop, senior vice president of Business Markets, noted in the news release. "Businesses can become more efficient and effective because they won't be constrained by shared networks, slow connectivity, and data caps."

The company said it is proud to provide support solutions to Nome-based Kawerak, a regional nonprofit corporation, by offering competitive, high-speed broadband. This move addresses extremely high prices and substantial bandwidth constraints previously faced by the Bering Straits Native Corporation, according to the release. "This contract will have a positive impact on business, connectivity, and how Kawerak works with companies and customers outside of Nome," Bishop said.

Aside from its work in Nome, Alaska Communications is bringing new services to Utqiagvik, Kotzebue, Point Hope, and Wain-wright. Native corporations, government agencies, healthcare clinics, schools, and businesses now have access to competitive, high-speed, reliable broadband and managed IT services, the news release said. In addition, such technology is available through a fiber optic network where most new oil and gas development is occurring in Alaska's North Slope.

The fiber optic broadband network is now available following a multi-year effort by Quintillion to lay infrastructure and connect two undersea fiber optic cable networks. The connection increases capacity and builds redundancy on the subsea fiber optic system, which allows Alaska Communications to expand broadband and managed IT service offerings to Arctic-region businesses. Alaska Communications is, reportedly, first in making this new network available to business customers and select telecom carriers.

ASTAC Improving Wireless

ASTAC is a full-service telecommunications company that provides fixed and mobile wireless solutions, including equipment sales and service, to the North Slope region. The member-owned telephone cooperative also provides local and long-distance, Internet, and data services, catering to eight of the region's traditional villages in Utqiagvik, Wainwright, Atqasuk, Anaktuvuk Pass...