OneWeb Joins Connecting Alaska Consortium
OneWeb satellite 3D render.
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The London-based company bringing broadband internet connectivity to rural Alaska using satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO) is joining with a not-for-profit organization that shares its vision. OneWeb is the newest member of the Connecting Alaska Consortium, which also includes software, digital infrastructure, and financial partners as well as the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association.
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“This is about helping Alaska communities provide opportunity and access to their people,” says Katie Dowd, director of corporate and government affairs at OneWeb, North America. “With once-in-a-lifetime broadband infrastructure dollars coming to Alaska, Connecting Alaska Consortium is a one-stop shop to assure those who seek broadband dollars have knowledgeable, committed businesses to help them get the job done well. OneWeb is thrilled with this partnership.”
The consortium is a forum for tribal leaders to engage with entities that can provide internet solutions appropriate for their communities. The organization’s members are capable of network planning and design, financial auditing, and grant writing.
Through its participation in the consortium, OneWeb aims to raise awareness about its LEO satellite service.
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“OneWeb has new and effective technology that can help our rural and remote communities realize greater opportunities in healthcare, public safety, and commerce,” says Gerad Godfrey, a founding board member of Connecting Alaska Consortium and tribal council member of Native Village of Port Lions. “OneWeb’s commitment to Alaska is evident in its willingness and desire to partner with the consortium to offer pathways and connections for tribes seeking to establish or enhance connectivity.”
With more than 600 satellites in orbit, OneWeb’s broadband network is delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity across Alaska. As a wholesale connectivity provider, OneWeb seeks to partner with internet service providers, telecommunication companies, and community leaders who are seeking to deliver broadband services to unconnected, unserved, and underserved areas.
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