Alaska United West (AU-West): Connecting Alaska to the Lower 48
The Alaska United West (AU-West) submarine cable is a fiber-optic telecommunications system owned by GCI Communication Corp, linking Alaska to the contiguous United States. Spanning 2,485 kilometers, it connects the landing points of
Ketchikan,
Seward, and
Warrenton, facilitating data traffic between these regions. Operational since 2004, according to GeoCables records, AU-West is listed as in service, but detailed technical specifications like design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology remain publicly undisclosed.
What makes AU-West noteworthy is its role in bridging Alaska's remote communities to the mainland United States, a challenging feat given the rugged geography and harsh marine conditions of the North Pacific Ocean. However, the lack of publicly available technical details about its design and capacity leaves room for speculation about its exact capabilities and performance.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Alaska United West (AU-West) |
| Length | 2,485 km |
| Ready for service | 2004 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owner | GCI Communication Corp |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Ketchikan (United States); Seward (United States); Warrenton (United States) |
🗺 Show Alaska United West (AU-West) on the interactive cable map
Route
The AU-West cable spans the North Pacific Ocean, connecting three key landing points: Ketchikan and Seward in Alaska, and Warrenton in Oregon. Ketchikan, situated in Alaska's southeastern panhandle, serves as a hub for regional connectivity, with other cables like
Alaska United Southeast (AU-SE) and
SEALink South also landing there. Seward, located on Alaska's southern coast, is another critical node, hosting connections to
FISH West and
Kodiak Kenai Fiber Link (KKFL). Warrenton, on the Oregon coast, marks the cable's southern terminus, linking Alaska to the broader telecommunications infrastructure of the Lower 48 states.
Why it was built and what it carries
AU-West was constructed to address Alaska's unique connectivity challenges. The state's remote location and sparse population make terrestrial infrastructure impractical in many areas, necessitating submarine cables for reliable telecommunications. By linking Alaska to Oregon, AU-West facilitates internet, voice, and data services for businesses, residents, and government entities. Its role is particularly significant for industries like fishing, tourism, and energy, which rely on reliable communication networks to operate efficiently.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that AU-West became ready for service in 2004. This aligns with GCI Communication Corp's broader strategy of expanding telecommunications infrastructure in Alaska during the early 2000s. However, no conflicting dates have been surfaced from industry sources, leaving the 2004 RFS year uncontested. Publicly available information does not provide further details about the cable's construction timeline or initial deployment challenges.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology specifications for AU-West are not disclosed in public sources. Without operator documentation, attributing specific values would be speculative. Given its age and the advancements in submarine cable technology since 2004, AU-West likely employs older-generation fiber-optic systems compared to modern cables. However, this does not diminish its utility for regional connectivity.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical latency calculations for AU-West indicate a one-way light propagation time of approximately 12.2 milliseconds over its 2,485 km length, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of about 24.4 milliseconds. These values assume optimal conditions and do not account for additional latency introduced by land-based segments, terminal equipment, or network routing.
Live latency measurements from remote probes provide real-world RTT values for internet paths terminating at Warrenton. For example:
- Saint Petersburg -> Warrenton: min 167.6 ms
- Moscow -> Warrenton: min 176.3 ms
- Minsk -> Warrenton: min 212.9 ms
- Kyiv -> Warrenton: min 182.8 ms
- Singapore -> Warrenton: min 191.9 ms
- Cape Town -> Warrenton: min 278.2 ms
These values reflect the full internet path, not the cable itself, and include delays from routing and intermediate networks.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, redundancy for AU-West is supported by other cables landing at its endpoints. Ketchikan hosts Alaska United Southeast (AU-SE),
KetchCan1 Submarine Fiber Cable System, and SEALink South, while Seward connects to FISH West and Kodiak Kenai Fiber Link (KKFL). These alternative systems provide backup routes, ensuring continued connectivity for Alaska. Standard industry practices for submarine cable repair, including fault localization, deployment of cable ships, and splicing, would be employed to restore service.
Bottom line
- AU-West spans 2,485 km, connecting Ketchikan, Seward, and Warrenton.
- Owned by GCI Communication Corp, it has been in service since 2004.
- Key technical specifications like design capacity and fiber pairs remain undisclosed.
- Theoretical latency is ≈ 24.4 ms RTT for the wet segment, with real-world internet paths showing higher values.
- Redundancy is provided by other cables landing at its endpoints.