Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“ACS”) (NASDAQ:ALSK) today announced the expansion of its EV-DO Mobile Broadband service across the North Slope.
“ACS has operated a mobile voice and mid-speed mobile data network since November 2005. Today’s announcement addresses high-speed mobile services on the North Slope. ACS has added Mobile Broadband coverage starting with sites at Dead Horse and Kuparuk,” said senior vice president of network and information technology, Anand Vadapalli. “ACS Mobile Broadband subscribers are able to experience high-speed connectivity to the Internet from their portable computers as well as their CDMA EV-DO enabled Pocket PCs and handsets. We anticipate that several thousand workers will enjoy getting the same high-speed mobile Internet access while on the North Slope that they get elsewhere on the ACS network. ACS Mobile Broadband service reaches speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps. No other wireless network in Alaska delivers service at that speed.”
About EV-DO
EV-DO is the high-speed mobile wireless broadband technology inherent to ACS' CDMA network. ACS was among the nation's leaders in deployment of this mobile broadband technology and remains the only statewide wireless company in Alaska with such capabilities. EV-DO has peak data rates at multiples of the next best mobile broadband solution, reaching 2.4 Mbps during downloads.
About the North Slope
The North Slope is the region of Alaska located on the northern slope of the Brooks Range along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. The region contains the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. The NPRA contains the bulk of Alaska's known petroleum reserves and is the base of several oil companies employing thousand of workers. The petroleum extracted from the region is transferred south by means of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to Valdez on the Pacific Ocean.
About Alaska Communications Systems
ACS is the leading integrated communications provider in Alaska, offering local telephone service, wireless, long distance, data, and Internet services to business and residential customers throughout Alaska. More information can be found on the company's website at www.acsalaska.com or at its investor site at www.alsk.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. The company cautions that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with ACS' business, please refer to the company's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
