The Tohono O’odham Utility Authority (TOUA) will partner with Baicells Technologies to bring advanced broadband connectivity to tribal residents.
The Tohono O’odham reservation boundary is approximately 30 miles west of Tucson, Arizona and extends south along the border with Mexico. Roughly 28,000 members reside on the reservation. They live across a number of remote villages where bringing access to broadband has always been a major challenge.
Plans for Broadband to Reach Every Household
Previously relying on basic Wi-Fi connectivity in limited locations, the TOUA long recognized the need to overhaul and upgrade their infrastructure and so built out their network plan. In their mission to bring digital equity they secured funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Reconnect Program, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. This funding led to the build out of an advanced LTE network across their tribal lands using wireless network infrastructure, customer equipment like internet routers, and support from Baicells.
Since the project’s inception in 2020, the tribe has successfully deployed a dual-band private 4G LTE network, comprising of approximately 50 base stations and looking to serve an estimated 3,000 homes across the Tohono O’odham Nation. The tribe plans for the wireless network to eventually reach every household.
Baicells installs its LTE radios on towers. This ensures that residents are covered and can get connected. The current infrastructure will be transitioned to 5G. This will accommodate the growing demand for capacity and performance.
“Understanding our remote location and lack of service by any existing carriers, we knew it was up to us to address this issue of broadband access; we have experience and a track record of solving these types of challenges for our communities. And, a private network that we can manage on our own was a great fit since we are very accustomed to operating our own infrastructure,” said Kristan Johnson, the operations manager for the Tohono O’odham Utility Authority.
Nation Maintains Sovereignty Over its Network
With faster internet, Tohono O’odham residents can use modern applications like video streaming. They can also view greater volumes of content. The performance upgrade to connectivity has also made video chats or conferencing an option. In practice, this reduces the need for long trips for routine visits and makes connecting with family easier.
Additionally, by leveraging a private LTE network, the Nation maintains sovereignty over its network infrastructure. At the same time, it can offer a reliable and secure solution while providing advanced broadband connectivity to the community.
“The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance communications and access to content and educational services, with the high-speed connectivity provided by this network,” said Minchul Ho, CEO Americas at Baicells. “Baicells core mission is empowering unserved communities and bridging the digital divide with affordable solutions. The success of the partnership with the TOUA showcases the company’s dedication and commitment to this mission.”
About Tohono O’odham Nation
As a federally recognized tribe, the Tohono O’odham Nation occupies tribal lands in Southwestern Arizona. The Nation is the second largest reservation in Arizona in both population and geographical size. It has a land base of 2.8 million acres and 4,460 square miles. This is approximately the size of the State of Connecticut.
About Baicells
Baicells is a global technology company offering turnkey 4G and 5G Network Solutions. While working with commercial deployments in over 60 countries, offices on five continents, and an impressive engineering portfolio of 500 patents, Baicells has established itself as a technology leader. Baicells currently operates more than 700 private LTE deployments worldwide, including a significant presence across North America. For more information, visit www.baicells.com.
