GCI Declares Airraq Network Phase One Complete
The Airraq Network (pronounced EYE-huck) is named after a traditional Yup’ik game similar to cat’s cradle and translates to “string that tells the story.”
Photo Credit: GCI
Bringing 2.5 gigabit per second residential internet speeds, unlimited data, and urban-level pricing to five communities in Western Alaska, GCI and Bethel Native Corporation (BNC) celebrated the completion of the first phase of its 840-mile Airraq Network fiber project.
“Completing the first phase of the Airraq Network is a proud moment for our region,” says BNC President and CEO Ana Hoffman. “This project is about more than fiber and fast internet. It’s about integrity, opportunity, equity, and the future of our communities. We are deeply grateful for NTIA’s support and for the local, tribal, and private partnerships that made this possible. Together, we are building a foundation for our people to thrive for generations to come.”
Federal Support, Local Benefit
Phase One of the Airraq Network connects Bethel, Platinum, Eek, Napaskiak, and Oscarville, the first five of what will be thirteen communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta region to be connected.
The first phase included the deployment of more than 400 miles of middle-mile subsea, terrestrial, and aerial fiber, upgrading the local cable plant in Bethel, and building out new fiber-to-the-premises infrastructure in Platinum, Eek, Napaskiak, and Oscarville. In addition to delivering high-speed internet service, the Airraq Network fiber also supports 5G mobile service in each community.
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February 2026
The project is funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, and private investment by GCI.
“The Airraq Network isn’t just shrinking the digital divide; it’s eliminating it in these communities and those that will be coming online over the next several years,” says GCI Senior Vice President of Corporate Development Billy Wailand. “With BNC’s steadfast support and tireless work by our employees and contractors, GCI was among the first companies in the nation to complete a large infrastructure project funded by NTIA’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The completion of the Airraq Network’s first phase shows what’s possible when federal investment, local leadership, and private expertise come together.”
Bethel Native Corporation President and CEO Ana Hoffman (at podium) says the Airraq Network is about more than fiber: it’s about opportunity, equity, and the future of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
Photo Credit: GCI
BNC and GCI have worked closely with local communities and tribal entities throughout the project—even giving presentations in Yup’ik when needed. Local participation ensured that construction activity respected cultural and environmental priorities while also establishing a sense of community ownership.
“Strong relationships with local communities are what make the Airraq Network possible,” says GCI Rural Affairs Senior Director Jenifer Nelson. “Listening to residents, learning from their experiences, and working together every step of the way has helped guide this project. It’s a reflection of what can happen when trust, respect, and shared goals come together.”
Phases Two and Three of the Airraq Network are funded by a combination of US Department of Agriculture Rural Development ReConnect grants and private investment by GCI. Work on the Airraq Network’s second phase is already underway and will bring fiber to Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Nunapitchuk, Quinhagak, and Tuntutuliak. Phase Three will extend the Airraq Network to Toksook Bay, Tununak, and Emmonak. When complete, the Airraq Network will provide digital service to more than 11,800 Alaskans in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
“This network is built with trust and local participation and specifically designed to meet the needs of our region for the foreseeable future,” Hoffman says. “This is an ambitious project, and it is becoming a reality, bringing first-class internet to a first-class people. These strands of fiber are carrying our voices, images, culture, and stories throughout Alaska and across the world.”
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