Recognition highlights Toptana’s work to advance connectivity, tribal sovereignty and economic opportunity across the Pacific Northwest

‍TAHOLAH, WA, September 09, 2026 — Toptana Technologies (Toptana), an Indigenous-owned telecommunications infrastructure company owned by the Quinault Indian Nation, today announced it 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.

Toptana was recognized for its work to bring 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 and terrestrial connectivity from the Washington coast to major network hubs in Seattle, Washington and Hillsboro, Oregon.

“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 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.

“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 QIN 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.

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About Toptana Technologies 

Toptana Technologies (Toptana) is driven by a vision of a truly connected world. We’re an indigenous-owned internet infrastructure and technology company focused on bringing connectivity to unserved and underserved communities. Our mission is to connect the digitally disconnected so that all people can fully participate in the digital economy. Our Washington State cable landing station offers subsea transpacific connectivity from the U.S. to Asia-Pacific markets. The backhaul network offers terrestrial connectivity along the I-5 corridor to Seattle, WA and Hillsboro, OR. We offer businesses the opportunity to get their traffic where it needs to go, while protecting our precious resources and improving the lives of those in need. Connect with Toptana on LinkedIn to learn more.

‍About Assured Communications:

Driven by a desire to create meaningful solutions to connectivity, Assured Communications (“Assured”) brings decades of public and private sector experience to mission-critical DEP&C. Assured offers strategic advisory services, DEP&C, project management, owner's representation, and facility management to deliver highly reliable, assured communications to its clients. Assured identifies and orchestrates the right partners to navigate complicated political, regulatory, economic, and/or technical barriers to entry to create opportunities in areas thought too costly or complex to develop. No matter the environment- land, sea, or sky - Assured thrives on overcoming obstacles to create ICT solutions worldwide. Assured Communications knows the human impact technology can bring and works to connect the under-connected by serving its clients. Connect with Assured Communications on LinkedIn to learn more.

Media Contact:

iMiller Public Relations for Toptana Technologies
Zack Zinser
Tel: +1.866.307.2510                                                                                                                                                                                   
Email: toptana@imillerpr.com