WASHINGTON, June 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ —
- Deployment includes Ericsson’s 3GPP standards-based 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software to macro cell sites across the Municipality of Anchorage
- Consumers benefit from faster speeds and better coverage, while new wireless functionality will accelerate applications for the oil, gas, mining and healthcare industries across Alaska
- Supports local government efforts to grow the nation’s northernmost smart city, enabling the Municipality to deliver services that will reduce costs and improve lives of residents
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has been selected by GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, to build the nation’s northernmost 5G network in Anchorage, Alaska – scheduled to launch in 2020. This marks Ericsson’s 22nd publicly announced 5G contract.
As part of the announcement, GCI will deploy Ericsson’s 3GPP standards-based 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software to 82 macro cell sites across the Municipality of Anchorage. Those sites will be supported by backhaul services provided by GCI’s metro fiber network.
Ron Duncan, CEO, GCI, says: “We are committed to providing superior 5G wireless service to the residents of Anchorage just as we already provide the fastest internet service. We are bringing all our assets – fiber, spectrum, wireless footprint, Alaska expertise – to bear on that commitment. The combination of our assets and Ericsson’s industry-leading 5G solution will increase the capacity of our Anchorage wireless network by 10 times or more and also provide better coverage. All of our customers will benefit from this increase in capacity.”
Börje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson, says: “Ericsson and GCI have partnered over the past decade to connect customers in some of the most remote communities in Alaska. We are pleased to continue working with GCI to bring 5G service to Alaska’s biggest city. The introduction of 5G will create a powerful platform for innovation. Using 5G, new use cases benefitting society, consumers and enterprises, will be created. Consumers will benefit from a premium experience with faster speeds and better coverage, while new wireless functionality will accelerate applications for the oil and gas, mining and healthcare industry across Alaska.”
GCI’s 5G deployment will support local government efforts to grow the northernmost smart city in the US. The Municipality of Anchorage already uses a “light grid” to improve efficiency for municipal street lights and is exploring programs that rely on automated systems and connectivity to deliver services more efficiently to residents. The project will be completed in 2020 with GCI’s initial 5G service coming online in the first half of the year.
Services
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
BUSINESS & BROADER MARKET ACCESS
Upcoming Events
‘A WORKING LUNCH WITH NORDIN’: NATIONWIDE TOUR WITH TOYOTA
MGBF Roundtable: Digitalisation of the Food and Beverage Industry
THE SOUTH CHINA SEA: A THREAT OF DISRUPTION FOR BUSINESS?
FOOD SECURITY IN THE BREACH: INDUSTRIALISATION AND WEAPONISATION
MGBF In The News
SPM and the Future of Data
MGBF Roundtable to shape Malaysia’s future in the digital economy
MGBF: Political stability to usher in new era for business
Death by a Thousand Algorithms
KSK Land recognised for investor attraction strategy
KSK Land set to drive further investment into Malaysia
A Need for Strategic Calm
With Change Comes Opportunity
MALAYSIA GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM TIES UP WITH SCOUTASIA

















