Alaska Communications Expands Network Footprint Through Fiber Strategy

ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) has surpassed 150,000 total fiber miles.

“As one of the largest fiber providers in Alaska, we continue to upgrade and expand our existing fiber-based network,” said Diedre Williams, Alaska Communications senior vice president, operations. “This work enables us to increase bandwidth and capacity, connecting government, healthcare, education, commercial and consumer customers with high-speed, reliable and redundant service across Alaska and into the contiguous United States.”

The company is expanding its fiber footprint in four main areas, including:

• Wireless backhaul project
• Owned satellite earth station to increase capacity
• Expanded fixed wireless presence
• Fiber to the home

Wireless backhaul project

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska Communications has made significant progress this year. Since January, the company has turned up an additional 24 sites for its carrier customer’s 5G wireless network in Anchorage. These 24 new sites added 8,000 fiber miles to the company’s network, allowing it to reach additional businesses and consumer customers.

Satellite services

Due to the remoteness of rural Alaska, many communities cannot be reached by fiber. Alaska Communications’ satellite services provide reliable connections and immediate reach, making mission-critical communications possible in the most challenging and remote environments. The company is actively selling service on its fiber-fed satellite earth station, reducing costs and increasing capacity for customers.

Fixed wireless

A fundamental component of the company’s rural broadband strategy is fixed wireless for the last mile. So far under its fixed wireless program, the company has lit up more than 13,500 locations through fixed wireless in rural communities. The fixed wireless service sites are mostly fed by extensions of the company’s fiber network. Many of these builds are funded in part through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) program. Read more about the company’s work to reach rural Alaskans with high speed services.

Fiber to the home

The company’s focus on fiber to the home is primarily in multi-dwelling units. Since January, the company has added 1,077 locations, bringing the total footprint to more than 7,000 locations, pushing higher broadband speeds and connectivity further into our consumer market.

An additional component of the company’s fiber initiative this year include upgrades to its Alaska fiber ring as well as subsea fiber with optical transport network.

“The demand for broadband continues to increase, and we are dedicated to providing a fiber network that meets the needs of our customers both now and in the future,” said Williams.

About Alaska Communications

Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) is the leading provider of advanced broadband and managed IT services for businesses and consumers in Alaska. The company operates a highly reliable, advanced statewide data network with the latest technology and the most diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the contiguous U.S. For more information, visit www.AlaskaCommunications.com or www.alsk.com.