Navajo Nation Cuts Ribbon on New Nazlini Cellular Tower

Nazlini, Arizona has long sat beyond the reach of reliable cell service, but the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority's Communication Systems Division changed that on March 17 when community members, tribal officials, and telecommunications partners gathered to cut the ribbon on a new cellular tower built to bring broadband connectivity to a chapter that has spent years advocating for it.

Members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council attended alongside local officials and telecom partners, with Speaker Crystalyne Curley joining in person. Curley emphasized that strengthening infrastructure remains central to supporting community well-being and future generations, according to the Council's Office of the Speaker. Chief of Staff Sharen Sandoval attended on behalf of the Office of the Navajo Nation President and Vice President. President Buu Nygren, unable to be present in person, joined the ceremony by video.

"With the establishment of the Nazlini Broadband Tower, we are taking a meaningful step toward closing the digital divide for the Diné People," Nygren said. "For example, students will be able to access online resources, businesses can use digital card readers, and the Navajo Nation will be able to advance with modern society. This is only the beginning as we continue our promise of connectivity across the Navajo Nation."

The tower was built and will be maintained by NTUA, with Choice Wireless serving local customers. The structure is designed for co-location, meaning carriers including AT&T and Verizon can lease space on it to extend their own coverage into the area. Funding came through National Telecommunications and Information Administration broadband grants, which officials said help keep costs lower for families.

Brian Thomason, Deputy General Manager of NTUA's Communication Systems Division, called the project a milestone for the region. "This new tower in Nazlini is a positive event... as it provides a platform for communication services to be added," Thomason said. "We're very proud to be part of this capability in providing this service."

The Nazlini tower is the latest addition to an infrastructure campaign NTUA has sustained for more than 15 years. Since 2010, the utility has deployed nearly 600 miles of fiber optic cable and erected more than 140 towers across the Navajo Nation to push high-speed internet and cell coverage into rural chapters.

Officials said the Nazlini tower is expected to strengthen emergency response capabilities and expand access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for the surrounding communities. Future phases of the broader broadband initiative will focus on additional cellular towers, fiber-optic expansion, and wireless broadband deployment across underserved areas of the Nation, with equitable access for all Navajo communities as the stated goal.