The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click here. This episode is sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap.
Access to high-speed broadband is often taken for granted in urban areas, but for tribal and rural communities, it remains a persistent challenge. The FCC reports that nearly 28% of tribal land residents lack access to high-speed broadband, compared to just 1.5% of urban residents. This lack of connectivity hinders education, healthcare, economic development, and quality of life in many rural and tribal areas.
In a recent episode of The Broadband Bunch, host Brad Hine spoke with Sachin Gupta, Vice President of Business & Technology Strategies at Central Rural Electric Cooperative (CREC) and Centranet, about broadband expansion efforts in Oklahoma. Gupta shares insights into the Sac and Fox Nation broadband project, which has successfully delivered 50Gbps fiber speeds—making it one of the fastest rural tribal networks in the world. He also discusses the challenges of rural broadband deployment, the role of electric cooperatives, and what the future holds for broadband funding and policy in the U.S.
For many tribal communities, reliable internet access isn’t as simple as logging onto Wi-Fi or connecting to fiber-based home internet. The digital divide has long been an issue in rural America, but it’s even more pronounced for tribal communities. Internet speeds that are considered slow in urban areas—such as 100Mbps—are often completely unavailable in these underserved regions.
Gupta explains how some rural households still rely on outdated DSL, satellite, or even mobile hotspots—many of which fail to support remote work, virtual education, telehealth, and modern digital needs. Some families have to drive miles just to access public Wi-Fi to complete school assignments or conduct business.
The solution? Strategic investment in fiber infrastructure. With fiber-optic broadband, communities can receive reliable, high-speed internet that supports future digital advancements such as augmented reality, telemedicine, and AI-driven smart home applications.
One of the most exciting projects in rural broadband expansion is the Sac and Fox Nation’s new high-speed fiber network, a $35.8 million project funded through the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). Centranet, a subsidiary of CREC, has partnered with the Sac and Fox Nation to deploy a 50Gbps fiber connection—a first-of-its-kind achievement for a rural tribal community.
In October 2023, Centranet connected the first tribal household to this ultra-fast network, using Nokia’s LightSpan MF fiber technology. According to Gupta, this deployment wasn’t just about delivering faster internet—it was also about proving that rural and tribal communities can have the same, if not better, broadband infrastructure than urban areas.
“When we built this network, we wanted to ensure that tribal members could fully participate in the digital economy. Whether it’s distance learning, telehealth, or remote work, they should have access to the same tools as urban communities. This project proves that rural broadband doesn’t have to lag behind—it can lead the way,” Gupta explains.
Building broadband in rural and tribal areas presents unique challenges, many of which stem from geography, population density, and infrastructure costs. Gupta highlights several key obstacles that providers like Centranet face when deploying fiber networks in these areas:
A major topic of discussion was the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is expected to fund billions in rural broadband projects over the next decade. However, Gupta warns that the future of broadband funding remains uncertain, particularly with potential policy shifts under a new presidential administration.
“States already have their broadband plans in motion, but changes at the federal level could impact funding distribution, regulatory requirements, and technology priorities,” says Gupta.
He also predicts that private equity investment in broadband will continue to grow, estimating that private funding will add nearly $50 billion to the $100 billion already available through government programs.
Gupta’s career path into broadband wasn’t conventional. Before joining Centranet, he spent 17 years working in defense technology, focusing on sensor networks, explosive detection, and hazardous material monitoring. His work took him around the world—including a trip to Chernobyl to study radiation detection technologies.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gupta began reevaluating his career and realized that he wanted to make a more direct impact on people’s lives.
“I wanted my work to help people in a tangible way. Broadband became my passion because it’s about giving communities the ability to thrive in a digital world,” he explains.
Gupta’s leadership has since earned him a spot in the Presidential Leadership Scholar Class of 2025, a prestigious program that trains high-impact leaders across industries.
As Centranet continues to expand its fiber network across Oklahoma, Gupta and his team remain focused on closing the digital divide and ensuring that rural communities don’t get left behind.
With ongoing projects expected to connect tens of thousands of additional households in the next few years, Gupta believes that collaboration between rural ISPs, electric co-ops, and government agencies will be the key to broadband success.
“We’re not just building for today—we’re building for the future. The goal is to create broadband infrastructure that can handle whatever technological advancements come next, so that no rural community ever feels left behind again.”
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