Toptana Technologies Wins 2026 Broadband Communities Tribal Lands Award
Toptana Technologies, an Indigenous-owned telecommunications infrastructure company owned by the Quinault Indian Nation, has received the 2026 Broadband Communities Tribal Lands Award. The award recognizes organizations and initiatives providing modern, high-quality telecommunications services to tribal lands while respecting sovereignty and bridging the digital gap.
The company was recognized for its work bringing connectivity to unserved and underserved communities through the development of its Washington State Cable Landing Station (CLS) and backhaul network. The infrastructure will provide transpacific subsea connectivity from the Pacific Northwest to Asia-Pacific markets, alongside terrestrial connectivity from the Washington coast to major network hubs in Seattle, Washington and Hillsboro, Oregon.
Toptana has completed its approximately 200-mile north-to-south fiber route connecting Seattle and Hillsboro, and is advancing an approximately 90-mile east-to-west route connecting the CLS to the I-5 corridor. The CLS, the first to be developed in Washington State in more than 25 years, will support up to four subsea cable systems and establish a new landing point for transpacific connectivity.
“From the beginning, Toptana has been about creating greater opportunity for the Quinault Indian Nation through connectivity while maintaining our sovereignty and protecting the resources that are central to our people and way of life,” said Tyson Johnston, 1st Council person of the Quinault Indian Nation and Ex Officio Board Member. “This recognition is meaningful because it reflects both what we are building and why we are building it to create lasting benefits for our community and future generations.”
“Toptana represents a different approach to developing critical communications infrastructure, one where the community is not simply served by the infrastructure but has ownership and a direct role in its development,” said Joel Ogren, Toptana General Manager and CEO of Assured Communications. “The combination of subsea and terrestrial connectivity creates opportunities not only to improve access locally, but also to establish the region as an important new connection point within the global communications network.”
For the Quinault Indian Nation and surrounding communities, the infrastructure is intended to improve access to reliable, high-speed connectivity while supporting education, telemedicine, workforce opportunities, local businesses and greater participation in the digital economy.