Vertical: Rural
Application: Coverage and capacity
Ecosystem: Baicells
Private Network: CBRS, 2.5 GHz, fiber, Private LTE
The remote community encompassing the Tohono O’odham Nation near Tucson, Arizona is using a combination of fiber and fixed wireless to provide high-speed internet to nearly 100% of its community over all 72 villages on the reservation, far better than the 67% coverage that most Native Americans have on tribal lands.
The Tohono O’odham Utility Authority (TOUA) has worked with Baicells to ensure high-speed coverage is available to the 3,000 residences found in the rural community. With nearly three million acres to cover, providing broadband access to residents was a challenge. Existing solutions had failed, and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for cost-effective, reliable, high-speed coverage.
With the help of federal grants, TOUA began laying fiber and using the 2.5 GHz band, which covered most, but not all, of the land. To cover the rest, CBRS was used for connectivity. The long-term goal is to provide fiber access to all homes on the reservation by 2024.
Commenting on the differences between the former ADSL network and the current setup, Leo Poter, a resident, said, “I’ve got two TVs and two laptops that are being used by students. It has been working well.”
