One-of-a-kind Project

In 2021, Intermountain Infrastructure Group (IIG) undertook the challenge to install two distinct submarine fiber optic cable routes within the Columbia River from East Wenatchee downriver to south of Malaga, WA. This fall (2024), IIG successfully completed this one-of-a-kind project and with completion of these last segments, have initialized our fully redundant,150-mile, Central Washington Ring.

While burying cable in the ground is straightforward and common in our industry, laying submarine cable in the Columbia River presents its own unique set of challenges. The IIG design, engineering, construction, and logistics teams put in motion the plan which overcame the limited available rights-of-way needed to create the multi-route fully diverse regional ring. The completed ring came to fruition after 3 years of dedicated work with the receipt of the required approvals from multiple federal, state, county, and tribal agencies. Installation methods all highlight IIG’s commitment to minimizing the impacts to the natural environment and to historic preservation.

To ensure optimal protection of the cable IIG utilized custom fabricated submarine cables, full GPS, hydrographic equipped vessels, and hardened pipe structure for the cable launches into the river. This method ensures that our customers and their end user customers receive the highest levels of protection available with this form of installation.