Toptana Technologies, an Indigenous-owned telecommunications infrastructure company owned by the Quinault Indian Nation, announced on Sept. 2, 2026, that it broke ground on its new cable landing station on Washington's Pacific coast.
The company said it marks a significant milestone in expanding international connectivity between the Pacific Northwest and Asia-Pacific markets.
The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction on a facility designed to accommodate up to four subsea cable systems. The cable landing station will connect subsea cables with terrestrial fiber networks, providing a new gateway for international connectivity while supporting future growth in cloud computing and global data traffic.
Project costs and contractors were not disclosed.
The Toptana cable landing station will serve as the Washington landing point for the Amazon Web Services (AWS)-owned Sta'O'Nuk subsea cable system, the first cable system planned for the facility. The name Sta'O'Nuk, which means “lightning serpent,” comes from the Quinault language and reflects the cultural heritage of the Quinault Indian Nation. The Nation granted AWS permission to use the name for the cable system while preserving its cultural and linguistic significance.
“This groundbreaking represents an investment in the future of the Quinault Indian Nation,” said Jeff Capoeman, chairperson of Toptana Technologies' board of directors. “Through Toptana, we're building infrastructure that creates long-term economic opportunity while strengthening Washington's role in the global digital economy.”
Established by the Quinault Indian Nation, Toptana Technologies develops communications infrastructure that supports underserved communities while creating diverse international connectivity between the United States and Asia-Pacific markets.
Assured Communications serves as Toptana's strategic partner, program manager and operations service provider, supporting the planning, development, construction and long-term operation of the cable landing station.
The Toptana cable landing station is expected to become the first new cable landing station developed in Washington state in more than 25 years. In addition to supporting the Sta'O'Nuk cable system, the facility is designed to accommodate future subsea cable systems, creating additional opportunities for international connectivity through Washington.
The Toptana cable landing station will bring new subsea infrastructure to Washington state, providing additional capacity and pathways for international connectivity as demand for cloud computing and global data traffic continues to grow. The facility also will create opportunities to support additional subsea cable systems and strengthen Washington's role in connecting the Pacific Northwest to global markets.
“Building resilient, high-capacity connectivity requires trusted infrastructure partners and a long-term commitment to the communities where that infrastructure is developed,” said David Selby, director of global network planning and acquisition, Amazon. “We're pleased to partner with Toptana on the Sta'O'Nuk cable system and to see the Toptana cable landing station move toward construction.”
