What Happened

A major fiber cut north of Santa Fe on Lumen’s network caused a countywide outage for multiple providers, including LAnet, Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T. Because Los Alamos currently depends on a single fiber route up the hill, a break in that line disrupts almost all services in the area.

How LAnet Responded

LAnet activated its Starlink backup systems to restore limited service for essential services and businesses. While Starlink provides temporary support, it cannot replace the capacity of a full fiber backbone. LAnet will continue adding more Starlink units and improving traffic controls for future emergencies.

A New Independent Fiber Route Is Being Built

A major highlight of the meeting was the update on the new fiber route being constructed from San Ildefonso to Pojoaque, connecting Los Alamos to REDINet’s middle-mile fiber.

• This path is completely separate from Lumen

• It provides a true second route off the hill

• It is expected to be operational in late 2025 or early 2026

➡️ LAnet will be able to connect directly to this new fiber route, meaning we will still have fiber service even if Lumen experiences another outage. This is one of the most significant improvements to internet reliability Los Alamos has ever seen.

Countywide Fiber Project

Los Alamos County also provided updates on the Community Broadband Network (CBN), a plan to build fiber directly to every home and business in Los Alamos and White Rock. A bond vote next week will determine final funding. Once approved, residents will be able to track construction progress through county dashboards and public updates.

Additional Work Underway

LAnet is also:

• Expanding its own fiber network

• Upgrading wireless towers to support gigabit speeds

• Adding new redundancy and failover systems

• Improving in-home WiFi support

• Offering expanded IT, camera, and VoIP services for local businesses

Community Feedback

Residents shared concerns about infrastructure reliability, business impacts, utility planning, and long repair times. Many expressed support for faster permitting and more investment in essential infrastructure. These comments will help guide future work and advocacy.

In Summary

Los Alamos experienced another outage due to a single point of failure, but major progress is underway. A new, independent fiber route and the countywide fiber build will provide the redundancy our community has needed for decades. LAnet is actively preparing to connect to these new systems and strengthen local reliability.

Thank you to everyone who attended and for supporting efforts to improve broadband for Los Alamos.