Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. ("ACS") (NASDAQ:ALSK) today reported that it had the fewest dropped and blocked wireless calls compared to its competitors in a recent drive test conducted by an independent firm.
Alaska’s leading telecommunications company regularly engages a national independent drive test firm to test the two most important gauges of a wireless customer’s experience. During an Oct. 23, 2008 drive test along the busiest corridors of the Anchorage metropolitan area, the firm found that compared to AT&T and GCI, ACS experienced the lowest percentage of both dropped and blocked calls.
ACS had zero blocked calls. AT&T experienced an 8.6 percent blocked call rate while GCI’s was 4.6 percent. In the category of dropped calls, ACS again had the best performance – the lowest rate – at 0.43 percent, while GCI performed the worst at 1.9 percent, with AT&T at 0.95 percent.
“These results confirm what we already knew – ACS is Alaska’s superior wireless network. Our customers benefit from ACS’ continuous monitoring, optimization and independent testing. Our goal is to provide Alaskans with the best wireless service available anywhere in the nation and we’re pleased to know that our efforts are clearly delivering,” said Anand Vadapalli, Senior Vice President of Network and IT.
About Alaska Communications Systems
Headquartered in Anchorage, ACS is Alaska’s leading provider of broadband and other wireline and wireless solutions to Enterprise and mass market customers. The ACS wireline operations include the state’s most advanced data networks and, to be launched in early 2009, the only diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States. The ACS wireless operations include the only statewide 3G CDMA network, reaching across Alaska from the North Slope to Ketchikan, with coverage extended via best-in-class CDMA carriers in the Lower 49 and Canada. By investing in the fastest-growing market segments and attracting the highest-quality customers, ACS seeks to drive top- and bottom-line growth, while continually improving customer experience and cost structure through process improvement. More information can be found on the company’s website at www.acsalaska.com or at its investor site at www.alsk.com.
Contacts:
Media:
Director,
Corporate Communications
Paula Dobbyn, 907-297-3000
Paula.Dobbyn@acsalaska.com
or
Investors:
Director,
Investor Relations
Melissa Fouts, 907-564-7556
investors@acsalaska.com
