North America is experiencing fiber infrastructure expansions due to the cooperation of the Navajo Nation.
A recent partnership between the Navajo Nation and a St. Louis-based fiber infrastructure firm, Arcadian Infracom, is allowing fiber routes in places that are not as common – the Indian reservation. The Navajo Nation occupies an Indian reservation that spans over 27,000 miles. It thrives across southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico. This new partnership has the project set to begin development this fall.
The Fiber Infrastructure Firm
Arcadian Infracom, known to some as just Arcadian, was founded over two years ago with the goal to develop long-haul fiber routes for various uses. Some of these uses may reflect to carrier adaption or even technology companies.
One of the reasons why the Navajo Nation has chosen this fiber firm is because of the time and effort that went into evolving this relationship. According to Arcadian CEO Dan Davis, “We’ve really spent 2.5 years building trust and then we’ll get to the network.”
Why Now?
In 2018, the Navajo Nation established legislation that would approve telecom development within certain parameters, such as a noted partner like Arcadian. This new Navajo legislation extends the breadth of the fiber partnership. The legislation will speed up the process of Arcadian’s fiber construction and financing of the project, which will allow for critical broadband access for the Navajo people to stay more informed. With the Covid-19 crisis, information has proven to be essential.
Chairmen of the Navajo Council, Honorable Rick Nez stated, “The Navajo Nation welcomes the opportunity to grow the strategic partnership with Arcadian… The new legislation expands a trusting and strategic relationship to really move the needle on broadband access within the Navajo Nation. This broadened partnership creates new value and opportunity for the Navajo Nation and future generations of its people.”
With the partnership between the two entities, it grants fiber infrastructure to be developed upon the Navajo’s rights-of-way. The first phase of the project will connect Phoenix data centers to those in Denver and Salt Lake. Future routes will then connect the Navajo nation to Dallas and Los Angeles. These developments will help bring these remote lands into a more connected world.
To stay up to date on where all the latest fiber routes and fiber infrastructure is being developed, contact the experts at GeoTel.
