GCI crews prepare Deering, Kivalina for next year’s local fiber deployment

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — With more than 170 miles of new subsea fiber in place, GCI crews are extending fiber even further into rural Alaska as the company prepares Deering and Kivalina for fiber-optic connectivity. The project, which kicked off earlier this year, will deliver 2.5 gig residential internet speeds to both Northwest Alaska communities in the coming years.

“Shelter structures, which serve as the connection point between the subsea fiber and local network infrastructure, have been installed in both communities,” said GCI Principal Program Manager Rebecca Markley. “Once crews complete electrical work at both shelter locations, GCI teams will begin installing network equipment in preparation for next year’s local buildouts in Kivalina and Deering.”

In 2024, GCI teams will begin building out fiber to homes and business. Once the project is complete, residential customers will have access to 2.5 gig internet speeds, unlimited data, and the same plans and pricing as GCI customers in Anchorage. 

“Our crews are making great progress to bring urban level internet speeds, plans and pricing to the residents of Kivalina and Deering,” said GCI Chief Communications Officer Heather Handyside. “Our project teams throughout the state are going all out in their effort to help close the digital divide in rural Alaska. They love the challenge of building large-scale infrastructure projects in Alaska and they prove time and time again that they’re the best in the business.”

The Deering-Kivalina Fiber Project is GCI’s sixth concurrent initiative to bring fiber-optic connectivity to more rural Alaska communities. GCI’s AU-Aleutians Phase I project, already launched in Unalaska, and AU-Aleutians Phase II fiber project will bring 2.5 gig residential internet speeds to 12 Aleutian, Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island communities. The joint Bethel Native Corporation and GCI AIRRAQ Phases I, II and III projects will deliver urban-level connectivity to 13 Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities. 

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 more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. 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.