The joint Bethel Native Corporation-GCI project will bring fiber-optic connectivity to 13 Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – On the heels of the launch of 2.5 gig residential internet speeds in Bethel, the first community connected through the AIRRAQ Network, project crews remain hard at work in more Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities in preparation for the future arrival of fiber. Teams are currently building out local fiber infrastructure in Eek, Platinum, Napaskiak and Oscarville. The AIRRAQ Network is a partnership between Bethel Native Corporation (BNC) and GCI to bring fiber-optic connectivity to 13 Y-K Delta communities.
In the coming months, project crews will deploy thousands of feet of aerial and underground fiber within each community directly to local homes and businesses.
The AIRRAQ Network (pronounced EYE-huck), is named after a traditional Yup’ik game similar to cat’s cradle, translates to “string that tells the story.”
“Launching fiber-optic service in Bethel was a huge milestone for our project crews and we’re eager to keep the momentum going,” said GCI Senior Staff Program Manager Nikki LaTona. “The AIRRAQ Network is an extremely complex project with a lot of moving parts. To make the most of Alaska’s crucial, and limited, summer construction season, our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure all the pieces are in place for construction to go smoothly in each community. That includes everything from permitting and surveys to staging equipment, organizing transportation and lodging for our crews, and more – it’s a massive effort.”
BNC and GCI launched fiber-optic connectivity in Bethel in May, bringing access to the same speeds, plans and pricing as those in Alaska’s urban areas to the regional hub’s more than 6,000 residents.
“For the first time, our communities have access to first-class internet service right here at home,” BNC President & CEO Ana Hoffman said. “I’ve often said, ‘first-class people deserve first-class internet service,’ and, with the launch of AIRRAQ, we are making that a reality. AIRRAQ is not just a technology upgrade—it’s an economic multiplier and an investment in our people, meaning jobs, training, and capacity-building for our communities, something BNC is deeply committed to.”
Bethel Native Corporation President & CEO Ana Hoffman speaks to the crowd at a community celebration event in Bethel in early June.
BNC and GCI have worked closely with local communities and Tribal entities throughout the project, holding public meetings and hosting listening sessions in Tribal halls and school gyms for residents who wanted to learn more about the project – even giving presentations in Yup’ik as needed.
“This local participation was crucial,” Hoffman said. “It not only smoothed the way for construction—ensuring we knew where it was okay to dig and where to avoid—but it also established local ownership. The AIRRAQ Network isn’t an outside project imposed on us; it’s our project, something we planned and designed to meet our needs. That community trust is the foundation on which this network has been built.”
“Long before any trench was dug or any cable shipped, we were meeting with village leaders, Tribal councils, and residents to understand their needs and concerns,” GCI Rural Affairs Senior Director Jenifer Nelson said. “Local knowledge became a key part of our planning. In short, this wasn’t just GCI building a network for the Y-K Delta – it was GCI building a network with the people of the Y-K Delta, incorporating their knowledge at every turn.”
The 840-mile AIRRAQ Network fiber project is a partnership between BNC and GCI that will deliver affordable 2.5 gig residential internet speeds and unlimited data plans to more than 11,800 people in Western Alaska. The project will connect 13 communities, including: Bethel, Platinum, Eek, Napaskiak, Oscarville, Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Nunapitchuk, Quinhagak, Tuntutuliak, Tununak, Toksook Bay and Emmonak. Learn more about the AIRRAQ Network fiber project at: https://www.gci.com/bethel-airraq-network.
Learn more about the AIRRAQ Network fiber project at: https://www.gci.com/bethel-airraq-network.
About Bethel Native Corporation
BNC is respected as a business leader with offices in Bethel, Anchorage and the Lower 48. Bethel’s companies engage in many diverse lines of business including government contracting, construction, logistical support, environmental remediation and commercial real estate. Learn more about BNC at https://bethelnativecorp.org.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is an independent publicly traded company (Nasdaq: GLIBA, GLIBK, GLIBB). Learn more at https://www.gciliberty.com/.
Media Contact
Josh Edge
Phone: 907-575-3622
Email: jedge@gci.com
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