Canadian telco Bell has deployed a domestic subsea cable linking several of its islands in Newfoundland.

In Alaska, meanwhile, Cordova Telecom Cooperative has completed surveys for its upcoming FISH cable expansions.

Bell deploys domestic cable in Newfoundland

Bell Canada has deployed a new domestic subsea cable linking Newfoundland to two smaller islands.

The company this week announced the deployment of a new 16km subsea fiber cable system connecting Fogo Island and Change Islands to the mainland Newfoundland Island.

Running from Farewell on Newfoundland to Change Islands (7.25 km) and from Change Islands to Fogo Island (8.8 km), the project was funded in partnership with the Government of Canada under the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF).

Bell said the project will enable fiber-to-the-home technology for the island, which has previously relied on microwave links for connectivity.

"Bringing fiber to Fogo and Change Islands is a major engineering achievement and a proud moment for our team. This project reflects Bell's commitment to connecting even the most remote communities with world-class broadband, unlocking new opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors alike, said Mark McDonald, EVP and CTO, Bell.

Newfoundland Island is connected to mainland Canada via two cables owned by Bell and one owned by Eastlink. It is connected to Greenland and Iceland via Tusass’ Greenland Connect system.

"Today, access to reliable, high-speed Internet is a necessity, no matter where you live in Canada. The deployment of this subsea fiber optic cable system marks a major connectivity milestone for Fogo and Change Islands, making it easier for folks to grow an online business, get access to essential services, and stay connected with their loved ones," added Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development).

Cordova Telecom Cooperative completes FISH surveys

On the other side of North America, work on a new domestic cable in Alaska is making progress. Cable consulting firm Pioneer this week announced that the marine route surveys for the two new Fiber Internet Serving Homes (FISH) cable projects have been completed.

Owned by Cordova Telecom Cooperative, the FISH projects consist of two new submarine cables: FISH West, which will run 300km between Cordova and Seward, and FISH South, which will run 900km between Cordova and Juneau. Installation completion and testing are expected at the end of 2027.

Both are funded by the US Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program, with the aim of bringing high-speed broadband service to Cordova, Johnstone Point, Chenega, Yakutat, Hoonah, Pelican, and Gustavus.

“This is a big, exciting milestone for the FISH projects,” said Philip deGuzman, senior director at Pioneer Consulting. “We’re proud to work with Cordova Telecom Cooperative to greatly enhance connectivity to Cordova and other remote communities in Alaska, while taking care not to disrupt wildlife or fishing activities.”

"Pioneer Consulting has helped ensure the FISH marine route surveys were completed on time and within budget, which is an arduous task in rural Alaska’s harsh environment,” added Sarah Kathrein, project manager at Cordova Telecom Cooperative. “The experience and expertise of the Pioneer team will be a key factor in the success of our submarine cable system deployment.”

The 90km FISH North system was installed in 2011, linking Cordova to Valdez. Valdez and Juneu are linked to the lower 48 states by GCI Communication’s AU-East and AU-SE cables, while Alaska Communication’s NorthStar cable also lands in Valdez.