Business
Alaska Power & Telephone Completes Installation of the SEALink Submarine Cable System Between Juneau, Prince of Wales Island, and Petersburg
Alaska Power & Telephone Completes Installation of the SEALink Submarine Cable System Between Juneau, Prince of Wales Island, and Petersburg.
About this update from Alaska Power & Telephone Co.
[{"type":"text","content":"\nOn October 31st, 2022, Alaska Power & Telephone subsidiary AP&T Wireless (AP&T) successfully completed installation of the SEALink submarine fiber optic cable system, providing Prince of Wales Island with its first ever fiber optic link to continental North America, and the world. The submarine cable is a core component of a regional fiber deployment project funded via a $21.5m grant from the USDA Rural Utilities Service ReConnect program, and approximately $7m in private investment supplied by AP&T. Beginning in 2023, AP&T will install fiber and turn up service to homes in the Prince of Wales communities of Coffman Cove and Kasaan.\n\nSEALink travels from Coffman Cove to south Mitkof Island, where it makes landfall near a State of Alaska ferry terminal. From there, newly constructed terrestrial transport fiber extends northwards along the Mitkof Highway to the city of Petersburg. There, the cable re-enters the water, running northwards through Frederick Sound and Stephens Passage to land at Lena Point near Juneau, where multiple options exist for transport to the lower 48 states.\n\n“I have consistently worked to spur progress for infrastructure development to help Alaskans, particularly when it comes to connectivity. I have urged USDA to support the installation of the SEALink submarine cable system, which is finally coming to fruition. This new installment will allow Prince of Wales Island a direct cable connection to the continental U.S. for the first time in history—a truly significant milestone,” said Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. “Alaskans are versatile and resilient and have found ways to adapt to the lack of basic needs that many Americans may take for granted—but even so, they deserve to have access to quality broadband. I thank the many Alaskans who helped make this project a reality and look forward to seeing the positive impacts this will provide to businesses, education, healthcare, and so much more.”\n\n“Access to high-speed, reliable internet can be life-changing for a community, enhancing the delivery of health care and education, and opening doors for small businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “I’ve always said Alaska is a resource-rich, but infrastructure-poor state, and the same is the case for broadband, w...