ANCHORAGE,
Alaska, June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer,
General Communication, Inc. (GCI) (NASDAQ:GNCMA) will upgrade its
networks in rural Alaska. These
upgrades will support increasing demand for terrestrial broadband
service and substantially improve mobile wireless service in
numerous rural communities.
First, GCI will increase the backbone capacity of TERRA, its
terrestrial broadband network, from Levelock to Bethel by deploying new microwave radio
technology. Second, GCI will deploy 3G wireless data service
in 28 rural Alaska communities
(listed below).
Upgrade work began on June 8 and
is expected to continue throughout the summer.
"The TERRA and 3G upgrades confirm GCI's ongoing commitment to
rural Alaska," said Greg Chapados, GCI's executive vice president.
"The upgrades will fortify the TERRA backbone, increase network
efficiency and enable faster Internet speeds for wireless
customers. Access to up-to-date communications technology increases
opportunity for rural Alaska
residents and businesses."
The TERRA upgrade is expected to be complete by June 19. During the upgrade, GCI Internet
customers on the TERRA backbone from Levelock to Kotzebue may notice some slowdown in upload
and download speeds. As a courtesy, GCI customers in the affected
communities will be mailed a voucher for $25 off their monthly bill. Mobile wireless voice
and data services should not be affected during the TERRA
upgrade.
The 3G upgrade is supported by an award from the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) called Tribal Mobility Fund Phase
1. As part of the award, GCI will deploy 3G and 4G wireless
services to a total of 48 rural Alaska communities by 2018.
GCI is the largest Alaska-based
and operated integrated telecommunications provider offering voice,
data and video services statewide. Learn more about GCI at
www.gci.com/about.
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Rural Alaska
communities to receive 3G wireless data service in
2015:
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Alakanuk
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Aniak
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Chefornak
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Chevak
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Eek
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Emmonak
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Goodnews
Bay
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Hooper Bay
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Kipnuk
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Kongiganak
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Marshall
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Kwigillingok
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Mountain
Village
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Mekoryuk
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Nightmute
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Newtok
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Nunam Iqua
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Pilot
Station
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Pitkas
Point
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Quinhagak
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Russian
Mission
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Scammon
Bay
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Shaktoolik
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St. Marys
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Togiak
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Toksook
Bay
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Tuntutuliak
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Tununak
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To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gci-announces-2015-upgrades-in-rural-alaska-300097342.html
SOURCE GCI
