📍 Kaktovik, AK (North Slope Borough)
Richesin Engineering deployed a complete LTE base station and backhaul system to Kaktovik, AK — population approximately 260 — on Barter Island above the Arctic Circle on the North Slope Borough. This stands as one of the most remote LTE deployments in North America.
The project brought broadband connectivity to a community that previously had extremely limited internet access, transforming the daily lives of residents and enabling better access to healthcare, education, and government services.
Arctic environment with extreme cold-weather conditions, remote logistics with no road access to Kaktovik, permafrost ground conditions complicating equipment grounding, and community coordination with the local tribal council.
Richesin Engineering's field team pre-staged all equipment and supplies for air cargo delivery, used Arctic-rated enclosures and heating systems for all electronics, coordinated closely with the North Slope Borough and local tribal leadership, and set up remote NOC monitoring so the system can be maintained without frequent on-site visits.
Our team has 70+ combined years of experience in the most demanding environments.