GCI expects scores to increase even more as it
progresses toward 10 gig internet speeds
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh straight year, GCI has been named
Alaska's fastest internet service
provider (ISP) by PCMag.com. GCI raised the bar yet again, setting
a record high PCMag Speed Index (PSI) score of 176.7.
For the seventh straight year, GCI has been
named Alaska's fastest internet
service provider (ISP) by PCMag.com.
GCI's PSI score places it well above national providers Cox,
Sparklight and AT&T Internet, which scored 143.8, 142.6, and
134, respectively. GCI's PSI score is also nearly three times
higher than low earth orbit satellite provider Starlink, which
clocked in at 60.5.
According to PCMag.com, "[GCI] set a record high of 149.0 last
year for a PSI and eclipsed it again this time with a 176.7. It
even has plans to introduce 10-Gig in the coming years."
"We're pleased to be recognized as Alaska's fastest ISP for the seventh year
running," said GCI Chief Communications Officer Heather Handyside. "With the launch of
residential 2 gig internet speeds last year and the addition of
even more communities to our fiber-optic footprint, it's great to
see that third-party analysis confirms what we already know — GCI
delivers Alaska's fastest internet
on the state's most advanced network!"
GCI was the first ISP in Alaska, and among the first in the country, to
make 2 gig internet speeds widely available. Currently, GCI
provides access to residential 2 gig internet speeds to 80% of
Alaskans and is on track to deliver 10 gig service.
"Not only are we offering the best internet experience in
Alaska, but we are also offering
packages that combine GCI's superior internet service with 5G
mobile service to provide cost savings and value for Alaskans,"
said GCI Chief Marketing Officer Kate
Slyker. "Our customers can now get 5G and home broadband
together starting at $99 a month for
both services — it's a phenomenal deal. We are committed to sharing
Alaska's most advanced network for
Alaskans at an unmatched value."
GCI continues to expand its fiber footprint in Alaska and expects to launch 2 gig service in
six new communities through its AU-Aleutians Fiber Project. The
project is scheduled to deliver urban-level speed, service and
reliability for the first time to the communities of Unalaska and Akutan by the end of 2022, Sand Point and King
Cove by the end of 2023, and Chignik Bay and Larsen Bay in late 2024. GCI is also
exploring a potential project to extend its fiber to Bethel, Alaska, which would deliver
urban-level internet to the western Alaska community.
GCI's investment in its network doesn't just mean faster
internet speeds, it also lays the groundwork for improved wireless
service for its customers.
"As our PCMag rating indicates, GCI's internet service is leaps
and bounds ahead of the competition, but it's important to point
out that we have the same intention for GCI's wireless network,"
said Handyside. "In fact, we've already achieved that in
Anchorage, where our 5G network
delivers mobile data speeds that are twice that of
AT&T. Alaskans need fast connectivity everywhere, not just
at home."
GCI launched Alaska's first 5G
network in Anchorage in 2020 and
is currently expanding its 5G footprint in the Matanuska Valley.
GCI expects to invest approximately $150
million in 2022 to improve wireless connectivity in
communities across the state.
To determine a provider's PSI score, PCMag incorporates 80% of
the download speed with 20% of the upload speed, based on results
from PCMag's speed test tool. ISPs must receive a minimum of 100
different tests to be considered.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video,
voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and
carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200
communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40
years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in
Anchorage, now the nation's
northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at
www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty
Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn
more about Liberty Broadband at
http://www.libertybroadband.com.
Visit the GCI Digital Newsroom for the latest
news and information
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SOURCE GCI