OneWeb has closed its vaunted test site in the village of Akiak, Alaska, following complaints from the Alaska Telecom Association (ATA) and local internet providers.
Akiak was one of OneWeb’s first test sites and was notable for being a keystone of the company’s marketing campaign, designed to show that the LEO satellite constellation could provide internet services to one of the most remote communities in the US.
According to sources, the ATA and local providers have written to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complain that the “service is too costly to adopt” and had been discontinued “due to ongoing technical difficulties.” The nature of these technical troubles remains unknown.
According to OneWeb, other rural Alaskan test sites are still up and running with positive results.
In contrast, Starlink launched commercial services to consumers in Alaska in November and is reportedly gaining a growing market share in remote locations. The service already covers Akiak and has been well received by residents.