Isle Au Haut has installed its first subsea telecommunications cable, bringing the long-term vision of access to universal broadband internet to this unbridged, year-round island community for the very first time. The 10km submarine cable now connects Isle au Haut to Stonington on Deer Isle, which links to the mainland through terrestrial connections.
Funding for this project came in the form of a USD1.2 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the State of Maine as part of a larger USD 28 million grant administered by the Maine Connectivity Authority and intended to support broadband expansion into underserved, and especially rural, communities.
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Transformational Project
Commissioned by the State of Maine, Axiom Technologies spearheaded the project and will provide services via the now-installed cable. Axiom engaged Pioneer Consulting for strategic advice and resource coordination.
“Like municipal power and early introduction of telecommunications, access to highspeed internet is a transformational project for Isle au Haut,” said Mark Ouellette, President and CEO of Axiom. “Broadband is a critical link for sustainable communities. It supports local businesses, attracts year-round residents, encourages remote workers to settle on the Island, and enhances the cultural and economic life of the whole community. Axiom is proud to be at the center of this critical project.”
“Subsea cables are ideal for communities like Isle Au Haut who wish to build a future-proof system and also avoid large microwave towers that disrupt natural vistas near Acadia National Park,” said Gavin Tully, Managing Partner at Pioneer Consulting. “It's a winning solution for everyone, and Pioneer is proud to help bring broadband infrastructure to rural communities. Unlike most of our long-haul, international projects, Isle au Haut has given us the opportunity to work directly with the end-users, the people themselves, who will benefit from this broadband service.”
Newington NH-based SubCom was chosen to supply the critical link of the subsea cable. Due to the variable and sometimes rocky nature of the Maine seabed, SubCom offered its state-of-the-art SL17 Special Application (SPA) fiber optic cable to ensure long-term survivability.
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