Cordova Telecom Subsea Cable Route Survey Complete

“Pioneer Consulting has helped ensure the FISH marine route surveys were completed on time and within budget, which is an arduous task in rural Alaska’s harsh environment,” says Sarah Kathrein, project manager for CTC.

The survey involved various geophysical and geotechnical equipment to map the sea floor and inspect the planned route for suitability or obstructions, including shore-end analysis of the sea floor via underwater remotely operated vehicles. Environmental scientists aboard the survey vessel observed protected marine species to ensure no wildlife were harmed.

“This is a big, exciting milestone for the FISH projects,” said Philip deGuzman, Senior Director at Pioneer Consulting. “We’re proud to work with Cordova Telecom Cooperative to greatly enhance connectivity to Cordova and other remote communities in Alaska, while taking care not to disrupt wildlife or fishing activities.”

Pioneer Consulting will next compile and analyze the collected data before final route engineering in preparation for cable manufacturing and eventually, cable installation.

Kathrein says, “The experience and expertise of the Pioneer team will be a key factor in the success of our submarine cable system deployment.”

Pioneer Consulting was brought in to assist with the initial feasibility study in 2021, resulting in CTC’s successful application for a grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Loan and Grant program. In 2023, CTC contracted Pioneer Consulting for further engineering. Work is scheduled through installation completion and testing, which is expected at the end of 2027.

Once completed, the submarine cable system will provide terabit capacity among the communities, facilitating gigabit speeds to end users through “fiber-to-the-home” links. The FISH system will also serve as a more advanced and reliable counterpart to Cordova’s existing fiber optic cable, which is vulnerable to a single point of failure.