Anchorage, Alaska \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
The AIRRAQ Network<\/a> is a partnership between Bethel Native Corporation (BNC) and GCI to bring fiber-optic connectivity to 13 Y-K Delta communities.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2018A lot of moving parts\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cLaunching fiber-optic service in Bethel was a huge milestone for our project crews and we\u2019re eager to keep the momentum going,\u201d said GCI Senior Staff Program Manager Nikki LaTona. \u201cThe AIRRAQ Network is an extremely complex project with a lot of moving parts. To make the most of Alaska\u2019s 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 \u2013 it\u2019s a massive effort.\u201d<\/p>\n BNC and GCI launched fiber-optic connectivity in Bethel in May<\/a>, bringing access to the same speeds, plans and pricing as those in Alaska\u2019s urban areas to the regional hub\u2019s more than 6,000 residents.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the first time, our communities have access to first-class internet service right here at home,\u201d BNC President & CEO Ana Hoffman said. \u201cI\u2019ve often said, \u2018first-class people deserve first-class internet service,\u2019 and, with the launch of AIRRAQ, we are making that a reality. AIRRAQ is not just a technology upgrade\u2014it\u2019s an economic multiplier and an investment in our people, meaning jobs, training, and capacity-building for our communities, something BNC is deeply committed to.\u201d<\/p>\n Tribal outreach plays pivotal role<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 even giving presentations in Yup\u2019ik as needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis local participation was crucial,\u201d Hoffman said. \u201cIt not only smoothed the way for construction\u2014ensuring we knew where it was okay to dig and where to avoid\u2014but it also established local ownership. The AIRRAQ Network isn\u2019t an outside project imposed on us; it\u2019s our project, something we planned and designed to meet our needs. That community trust is the foundation on which this network has been built.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLong 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,\u201d GCI Rural Affairs Senior Director Jenifer Nelson said. \u201cLocal knowledge became a key part of our planning. In short, this wasn\u2019t just GCI building a network for the Y-K Delta \u2013 it was GCI building a network with the people of the Y-K Delta, incorporating their knowledge at every turn.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n About Bethel Native Corporation<\/p>\n BNC<\/a> is respected as a business leader with offices in Bethel, Anchorage and the Lower 48. Bethel\u2019s companies engage in many diverse lines of business including government contracting, construction, logistical support, environmental remediation and commercial real estate.<\/p>\n About GCI<\/p>\n 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.\u202fThe 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.<\/p>\n Get content like this delivered to your inbox!\u00a0Subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754666108_800_Top-100-FTTH-1-1024x120.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n