Pioneer Consulting, a full-service submarine fiber optic telecommunications consulting and project management company, has successfully completed the marine route surveys for the “Fiber Internet Serving Homes” projects in Alaska. These projects, known as the FISH West and FISH South submarine cable systems, were commissioned by Cordova Telecom Cooperative, Inc., a member-owned telecommunications cooperative, in collaboration with Benthic GeoScience.

Supervised by Pioneer Consulting, the survey involved various activities such as investigating the seabed topography, collecting seabed samples, using geophysical and geotechnical equipment to map the sea floor, and analyzing the planned route for suitability. Multiple vessels operated concurrently over several months to conduct survey activities, including shore-end analysis using underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and ensuring the protection of marine species.

The collected data will now be compiled and analyzed by Pioneer Consulting to perform final route engineering for cable manufacturing and installation. The FISH projects consist of two submarine cables: FISH West, connecting Cordova and Seward over 300km, and FISH South, linking Cordova and Juneau across 900km.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Program, the FISH projects aim to provide critical high-speed broadband service to remote areas such as Cordova, Johnstone Point, Chenega, Yakutat, Hoonah, Pelican, and Gustavus in Alaska. Pioneer Consulting has been working with Cordova Telecom Cooperative Inc. since 2022 and will continue to lead project activities until the completion of installation and testing by the end of 2027.