Doyon, in partnership with Alaska Communications, is connecting five Alaskan communities along the Yukon River – Beaver, Fort Yukon, Rampart, Stevens Village, and Tanana—with affordable, high-speed internet. This project, known as the Alaska FiberOptic Project, aims to start installing service in each home, school, and community building by the end of 2025.
Last month a webinar was held to share updates and provide information on what community members could expect in the upcoming season. Also in attendance at the webinar were representatives from the federal government. Details about the equipment kiosks that would be installed within each home, and travel plans for May and June were shared, as Doyon and Alaska Communications representatives will be visiting each village to meet with each community and sign-up residents for service. Webinar participants had the opportunity to ask any questions they had and were also able to share input related to the project.
Plans for the upcoming 2024 season include the completion offield studies, installation of the in-ground portion of the fiber from Fairbanks (near Fox) to the Yukon River Bridge, the installation of equipment kiosks to support the distribution of high-speed internet services to the home, and deployment of fiber optic cable from existing utility poles to buildings to prepare for the connectivity that will be activated in 2025.
In the upcoming months, Alaska Communications and DeployCom will be holding community meetings, presenting on the overall project timeline and giving more specific details about the communities that will be connected. The outreach team will travel to Rampart and Tanana May 23-24, to Beaver and Stevens Village on June 5th, and to Fort Yukon on June 11-12, 2024. Environmental resources evaluations, including cultural resource studies, cable shore landings assessments, evaluation of river dynamics, and assessment of fiber-to-home infrastructure will be completed. Terrestrial construction along the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to the Yukon River Bridge, will begin, laying the groundwork for future expansion and connectivity.
This project represents a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and providing essential internet services to rural Alaskan communities. Doyon and Alaska Communications are committed to delivering reliable, high-speed internet to these underserved areas, empowering residents with greater access to information, education, and economic opportunities.
For more information, visit akfiberopticproject.com
