MTA to Build First All-Terrestrial Fiber Line From Alaska to Contiguous U.S.

Palmer, AK - MTA Fiber Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTA, Alaska’s best choice for technology and communications products, announced today that it plans to build AlCan ONE (Alaska Canada Overland Network), the first and only all-terrestrial fiber network connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States and beyond.

The new all-terrestrial network will initially have capacity of over 100 terabits per second, which can be expanded and increased in the future as demand grows. The network will establish a secure and reliable fiber connection to any point in the contiguous United States, providing MTA’s members, as well as Alaska, with a robust internet transport connection for decades to come.

“This is a major step for Alaska that will ensure future capacity requirements for MTA members and can support the continuing growth of broadband across the state of Alaska,” said Michael Burke, CEO of MTA.

Currently, MTA pays significant broadband transport fees to other carriers to facilitate high-speed access for its membership. The new all-terrestrial line will lower transport expenses, provide a secure and reliable route to the contiguous U.S. and provide Alaska with a stable internet transport connection. It is a long-term solution to give MTA and its members access to internet capacity while giving the option to reinvest funds in other parts of the company to better improve technology access. 

“This new terrestrial network will ensure the future viability and growth of the internet in Alaska,” said Burke. “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 has secured partnerships with Canadian carriers in order to extend MTA’s existing network from North Pole, Alaska, through Canada and on to any major hub in the United States. Only traffic that both originates and terminates in the United States will be carried over MTA Fiber Holdings’ all-fiber network.

Construction of the new terrestrial fiber line has commenced and will continue throughout 2019, with a goal of being completed by the middle of 2020.

For more information on MTA Fiber Holdings, LLC, please visit www.mtafiber.com.

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