January 30, 2025

Kodiak Island Advanced Broadband Network

Alaskans in four tribal communities on Kodiak Island will receive broadband service, thanks to a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Round 2 grant funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The collaboration, named Project Nunapet, between Old Harbor Native Corporation and Alaska Communications will install a middle mile subsea fiber optic cable from Homer to Kodiak Island. It will also deploy a last-mile fiber network offering Gigabit speeds to the tribal communities of Old Harbor, Chiniak, Akhiok and Womens Bay, serving 570 homes. Nunapet is an Alutiiq word meaning “our lands.” In addition to eliminating the digital divide for residents in these communities, Project Nunapet paves the way for broadband service improvements throughout the Kodiak Archipelago region. Connecting with Alaska Communications' fiber landing station in Homer, the subsea route will consist of 155 miles of subsea middle mile fiber, making landfall in Ouzinkie. From Ouzinkie, the subsea cable will travel around the eastern coast of Kodiak Island, landing in Narrow Cape, Old Harbor and Akhiok. Incorporated in 1973, Old Harbor Native Corporation serves more than 500 shareholders residing primarily in Anchorage, Kodiak and Old Harbor. Alaska Communications, an affiliate of ATN International, is a leading provider of communications infrastructure in Alaska.