Alcatel-Lucent's cable ship, the Maersk Defender, completed the laying of all five marine fiber segments connecting each of the six landing points in November 2006. Northern Telecommunications Construction, Inc. finished construction of the landing facilities and the overland fiber linking the marine plant with the terminal stations in early December 2006. Final system testing and commissioning was completed in December and the system was declared ready for commercial service. In January 2007, the common carriers began providing retail service to the communities.