On the west side of Nome near the port, nine huge white orbs contained by a chain link fence have idled for years. Each is pointed toward the sky in slightly different directions, searching for tiny satellites hundreds of miles above.
The system, called the Nome Gateway, is a partnership between Pacific Dataport and satellite internet provider Starlink. The latter is a familiar name to even the most remote parts of Alaska, where its signature slender white dishes can be found on rooftops and propped up on plywood pallets.
Pacific Dataport’s VP of Government Affairs and Strategy, Shawn Williams, said the gateway – compared to its consumer-grade-cousin – offers huge amounts of bandwidth.
“The Starlink on your house is like a garden hose supply, but the Nome Gateway is like a master pipe water supply,” Williams said.
The gateway launched earlier this month and claims speeds over 10 Gbps, fast enough to download an entire TV show season in under a minute.
Williams said the gateway is part of an emerging middle-mile-model for satellite internet companies. He likened Starlink to a water source, with Pacific Dataport acting like a main water line.
“We're supplying all of the capacity at massive amounts, and then the retail companies that actually work with the consumers, they're doing the smaller lines into the house,” he explained.
Williams said the service is a great backup option for high-bandwidth customers in remote communities, especially those that rely on fiber optic lines that occasionally break.
“Especially with the Quintilion fiber break. I mean, they have to get their ‘water’ from somewhere, right?” Williams said.
He added that the Nome Gateway brings benefits other than just being a backup.
“You know, competition brings prices down, and so we're already seeing that effect throughout Alaska, especially rural Alaska,” Williams said.
One potential customer is Nome Public Schools. When a fiber line connecting Nome to the North Slope broke earlier this year, the district crammed all three of its schools’ traffic into a single satellite connection. The strain led to delayed annual testing for students.
The district’s Superintendent, Jamie Burgess, said by email that more providers in western Alaska will “hopefully continue to drop prices for individuals and business folks alike.”
She said when its current contract is up, the district will invite Pacific Dataport to bid. While Williams was not able to confirm any potential customers, he said the gateway is a great solution for other high-bandwidth users like hospitals or government offices.
