Centranet, the broadband subsidiary of Central Rural Electric Cooperative, has become the first provider to test the fastest residential internet speed—50 gigabits per second—at a tribal nation home in rural Oklahoma.
On Oct. 8, Centranet announced it has connected a member of the Sac and Fox Nation to its fiber network using Nokia’s Lightspan MF access platform as part of a technology showcase. The live demonstration included load testing at the member’s house to prove viability of the connection.
“Bringing high-speed broadband to the Sac and Fox Nation, as well as other tribes and underserved areas has been a priority for us,” said Mark Prather, president of fiber and technology at the Stillwater-based co-op, which has built 3,300 miles of fiber in the past three years.
“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.”
Sac and Fox Nation recently won a $35.8 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program for Centranet to deploy gigabit internet service throughout its lands east of Oklahoma City. In August, the co-op and the nation broke ground on the first of four projects that are targeted for completion in 2026.
“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,” said Randle Carter, the principal chief of Sac and Fox Nation.
Just five years ago, the tribal community endured lethargic 12/3 megabits per second speeds through copper lines.
“Fiber has made a real difference in how we operate as a tribe,” said the nation’s IT director, Boyd Cummings. “Home health care has been impossible up until now. We are hoping that fiber internet in our rural areas will make a difference for our tribal members here in central Oklahoma.”
Established in 2020, Centranet provides fiber internet access to more than 10,000 rural households in north-central Oklahoma. In addition to the Sac and Fox Nation, the co-op also delivers broadband to members of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma.
“Eighty-six years ago, Central Rural Electric Cooperative lit up homes in rural Oklahoma by bringing them electricity. Today we bring light to these rural and tribal homes through fiber optic cables providing world-class broadband service,” said Sachin Gupta, Centranet vice president of business and technology strategies.
“This pilot demonstration marks a significant milestone for our ability to close the digital divide for rural and Indigenous communities with the fastest internet speed available globally.”
Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.