In response to a critical state of emergency due to a Fiber break off the coast of Alaska in June of 2023, OptimERA was contracted to perform a emergency Starlink installations across the State within just three weeks. The disruption affected vital services, leaving internet and cellphone service impaired or completely offline.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, we worked closely with local residents and businesses on-site to ensure everyone was back online as quickly as possible. Communication was crucial; with cell service largely offline in Kotzebue, we reached out to Fairbanks non-emergency dispatch, who helped relay our message to a local trooper who was able to help us reach critical points of contact to ensure an efficient and rapid deployment and installation.
The outage impacted critical functions across various sectors, including emergency services, banks, schools, and local businesses. To ensure efficient progress, we provided daily updates and coordinated closely with our clients as service was restored to locations.
The scope was to install Enterprise Terminals in four locations: Kotzebue, Nome, Barrow, and Bethel, facilitating immediate access and enabling essential daily functions to resume. Despite challenges, such as delays in procuring permanent mounts for the equipment, we prioritized temporary installations to restore connectivity as quickly as possible, later returning to these locations to install equipment permanently. Ultimately, we performed 46 professional, Alaska proof installations, in various situations ranging from single story buildings to large multi story complexes.
As an Alaska born company with its roots in rural Alaska, headquartered in the Aleutians, were weather can be harsh, OptimERA understand the need to creatively overcome communication issues and address emergencies by working together and harnessing available resources. We understand the what it takes to get things done in rural Alaska and are up for the challenge. Thanks to the local companies and individuals that took time to help get these critical locations back online, we were able to accomplish these installations at a break neck pace.