Centranet recently became the first company to demonstrate a 50Gbps fiber internet connection for a tribal nation in Oklahoma. The live commercial trial utilized Nokia’s Lightspan fiber solution and allowed Centranet to connect a pilot member of the Sac and Fox nation to one of the fastest residential internet speeds available worldwide. This was a major milestone for the company and the U.S. as it demonstrated the ability to close the digital divide for both rural and Indigenous communities.
This was the first live commercial trial of 50G PON technology in a tribal nation, and helped show how Nokia’s fiber access platform can be utilized to bring future-proof broadband access to communities diverse in size and density.
Through the usage of Nokia’s Lightspan MF fiber solution, Centranet can provide current subscribers with multi-gigabit speeds in the present, and also 50G PON services needed in the future for online education, telehealth, and other essential modern digital services. Centranet’s trial with Nokia shows the company’s commitment to making sure everyone has equitable access to reliable, high-speed internet.
Mark Klimek, Vice President, North American Business Center at Nokia said, “Our fiber platform supports a full range of PON technologies, allowing them to be mixed and matched on the same platform to deliver ultra-fast, reliable internet services over a single fiber. This is critical for those who want to future-proof their fiber network and gain the flexibility to address evolving network demands. By partnering with Centranet, we are ensuring that every community, especially those who have been underserved for far too long, can access the opportunities that cutting-edge technology provides, now and for generations to come.”
Randle Carter, Principal Chief, Sac and Fox Nation, commented, “We pursued this grant to enhance the availability and the viability for our tribal members to access fiber optic opportunities, not just now, but in the future.”
Mark Prather, President of Fiber and Technology, stated, “"At Centranet, we are deeply committed to investing in the future the communities we serve. Centranet has deployed 3,300 miles of fiber in north-central Oklahoma in the past three years. Bringing high-speed broadband to the Sac and Fox Nation, as well as other tribes and underserved areas has been a priority for us. This project is about more than just technology—it's about ensuring that everyone in our community has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in today's digital world."