MTA Fiber Holdings announces plans for AlCan ONE Alaskan terrestrial fiber network

MTA Fiber Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alaskan communications services and technology co-opMTA, says it has begun construction of a terrestrial fiber network to link Alaska to the contiguous U.S. “and beyond.” The Alaska Canada Overland Network (AlCan ONE) will have an initial capacity of more than 100 Tbps and is slated for completion by the middle of 2020.

AlCan ONE will augment or replace the leased middle-mile capacity on which MTA’s members currently rely to support the provision of broadband services in Alaska. Much of this comes in the form of submarine cable systems, two of which are ending their useful life, MTA Fiber Holdings says in the FAQ on its website. The money saved can be reinvested in other areas to improve services, MTA Fiber Holdings believes.

“This new terrestrial network will ensure the future viability and growth of the internet in Alaska,” said Michael Burke, CEO of MTA. “Alaska’s leaders have talked about a terrestrial fiber-optic path out of the state for more than 20 years. We are pleased to be the ones to be able to make this a reality. This will be a major win for the people who live, play, and work in Alaska, supporting business, job growth, and ultimately, the state’s economy.”

MTA Fiber Holdings adds it has reached agreement with Canadian carriers it did not identify to extend MTA’s current fiber-optic network from the North Pole, across Alaska, through Canada, and on to what it describes as “any major hub in the United States.” MTA Fiber Holdings asserts that AlCan ONE will only carry traffic that both originates and terminates in the United States.

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