Bethel is the first community connected through the joint Bethel Native Corporation-GCI AIRRAQ Network fiber project
BETHEL, Alaska – With the launch of lightning-fast 2.5 gig consumer internet speeds and 5G mobile service in Bethel, the first community connected through the AIRRAQ Network, fiber-optic connectivity has arrived in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta! The more than 6,000 residents of the regional hub community now have access to the same speeds, plans and pricing as those in Alaska’s urban areas. The AIRRAQ Network fiber project is a partnership between Bethel Native Corporation (BNC) and GCI that will bring fiber to 13 Y-K Delta communities.
Bethel is the first community to be connected through the AIRRAQ Network.
“The launch of fiber-optic internet and 5G mobile service is a huge milestone for Bethel and Y-K Delta,” said BNC President & CEO Ana Hoffman. “We appreciate the high level of care and expertise our partners at GCI have brought to the table to make the AIRRAQ Network a reality. From improved access to education and healthcare to economic opportunities and entertainment, the level of connectivity fiber has to offer is transformational and will provide a great deal of opportunities to our people and make life in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta even better.”
The project is supported by more than $100 million in broadband grants awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), and the USDA Rural Development’s ReConnect program, and by private investment by GCI.
“As Ana said at the outset of this project, ‘a first-class people deserve a first-class internet service,’ and that’s what the AIRRAQ Network has delivered to the people of Bethel,” said GCI President & COO Greg Chapados. “Through our continued close partnership with BNC, and with support from NTIA and USDA, we are bringing a first-rate network to a dozen more communities that will further close the digital divide in Western Alaska.”
In 2024, crews deployed hundreds of miles of fiber across seafloors, riverbeds and frozen tundra between Bethel and Dillingham to build the AIRRAQ Network’s backbone infrastructure. Once the fiber was in place and splicing work was finished, the project team conducted extensive testing of the new infrastructure connecting the two communities.
“Building infrastructure in rural Alaska is always a challenge and this project was no exception,” said Chapados. “There is still a lot of work left to do, but I want to express my appreciation to the project team driving forward for more than two years to get us to this major milestone. It’s a huge accomplishment and we’re looking forward to closing the digital divide in more Western Alaska communities.”
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, Emmonak. Learn more about the AIRRAQ Network fiber project at: https://www.gci.com/bethel-airraq-network.
BNC and GCI will be hosting an event June 3 in Bethel to celebrate this milestone. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.
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, video, 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 a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.
Media Contact
Josh Edge
Phone: 907-575-3622
Email: jedge@gci.com
Ana Hoffman, Bethel Native Corporation, President and CEO
Email: ahoffman@bncak.com
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