Anchorage, Alaska, December 3, 2002 —
Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“ACS”) (NASDAQ: ALSK) the leading integrated communications provider in Alaska, has selected Airvana, Inc. (www.airvananet.com), a provider of All-IP, third- generation (3G) CDMA2000 1xEV-DO infrastructure, to provide high-speed wireless and broadband equipment for its CDMA2000 1xEV-DO trial network in Alaska. Alaska Communications plans to launch this limited trial in 2003.
Under terms of the trial, Airvana will supply ACS with 1xEV-DO Radio Access Network Infrastructure including its IP-RN 8000 radio nodes, the IP-RNC Radio Network Controller and the AirVista™ Web-Based Management System to provide high-speed wireless data capabilities to fixed and mobile devices. During the trial, Airvana's equipment will also allow seamless interoperability between the trial CDMA2000 1xEV-DO network and the current ACS CDMA2000 1X network, as the technologies are forward- and backward-compatible.
“ACS is dedicated to bringing dynamic telecommunications services to the Alaskan market,” said Steve Kieser, Vice President for ACS. “Offering cutting-edge wireless data applications such as those enabled by CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is a priority for ACS. We look forward to this trial with Airvana, a leader in 1xEV-DO technology, enabling us to provide flexibility and functionality to our users with the most advanced wireless broadband services available.”
“With ACS’ position as a leading service provider in Alaska and1xEV-DO being a leading solution for enabling high-speed wireless data access, the trial is a great fit,” said Randy Battat, President and CEO of Airvana. “The flexibility to provide wireless broadband coverage to residential as well as mobile markets makes 1xEV-DO an ideal technology and we are pleased to be a part of this network trial with ACS.”
CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is an “always on” mobile wireless technology that enables data to be sent over PCS and cellular wireless networks at broadband speeds, and at a cheaper cost per byte than any other 3G technology. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recognizes CDMA2000 1xEV-DO as a global 3G IMT-2000 standard. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO’s peak data rates can reach up to 2.4 Megabits per second (Mbps), with average, per user sustained rates of 300 to 600 kbps. Subscribers can connect to a 1xEV-DO network using a 1xEV-DO mobile phone or by connecting their mobile phone or a PC card to laptops or PDAs. Users will experience speeds comparable to cable and DSL services, and be able to use all popular business, information and entertainment applications without any modifications to the applications. The technology can be added to existing CDMA2000 base stations with a simple channel card upgrade or overlaid on existing CDMA, TDMA and GSM networks.
About Alaska Communications Systems (ACS)
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. ACS currently serves approximately 330,000 access lines, 80,000 cellular customers, 65,000 long distance customers and 47,000 Internet customers throughout the State. More information can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.alsk.com
Chris Danne
ACS/the blueshirt group
Phone: (415) 217-7722
mailto: chris@blueshirtgroup.com
Brinlea Johnson
ACS/the blueshirt group
Phone: (415) 217-7722
mailto: brinlea@blueshirtgroup.com
This news release contains archival information, which should not be considered current and may no longer be accurate.
