{{About|the current telecommunications company|the historical "Alaska Communications"|Alaska Communications System (ACS)}} {{short description|American telecommunications company}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox company | logo = Alaska Communications logo.svg | name = Alaska Communications | type = Subsidiary | foundation = {{start date and age|1998}}, Anchorage, Alaska<ref name="founding">{{cite web | url=http://investors.alsk.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=117995 | title=ACS Alaska Press Release Introducing New CEO | access-date=2006-12-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703084218/http://investors.alsk.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=117995 | archive-date=2007-07-03 | url-status=dead }}</ref> | location = Anchorage, Alaska | key_people = Matthew McConnell (president and CEO) | industry = Telecommunications | products = {{Unbulleted list |Fixed telephony |Broadband }} | parent = ATN International | homepage = {{url|http://alaskacommunications.com/}} }}

'''Alaska Communications''' (formerly '''Alaska Communications Systems''' or '''ACS''') is a telecommunications corporation headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. It was the first telecommunications provider in the state of Alaska to maintain a third-generation wireless network and the only provider in Alaska that owned fully incorporated infrastructure for the major telecommunications platforms; wireless communications, Internet networking, and local and long-distance phone service. Alaska Communications wireline operations include advanced data networks and an underwater fiber optic system. The Alaska Communications wireless operations included a statewide 3G CDMA network, and coverage extended from the North Slope to Southeast Alaska.

==History== The company was formed in 1998, when CenturyTel announced the sale of its Alaska operations (newly acquired from PacifiCorp) to local management and Fox Paine & Company.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = COMPANY NEWS; CENTURY TELEPHONE TO SELL ALASKA OPERATIONS| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2015-05-23| date = 1998-08-18| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/18/business/company-news-century-telephone-to-sell-alaska-operations.html}}</ref> In 1999, Alaska Communications acquired Anchorage Telephone Utility from the Municipality of Anchorage.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Fox Paine & Company's Alaska Communications Systems to Acquire Anchorage Telephone Utility| access-date = 2015-05-23| url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fox-paine--companys-alaska-communications-systems-to-acquire-anchorage-telephone-utility-77086617.html}}</ref>

On February 3, 2014, Alaska Communications announced its purchase of TekMate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://investors.alsk.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=822747 |title=Alaska Communications Announces Purchase of TekMate (NASDAQ:ALSK) |access-date=2017-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830061508/http://investors.alsk.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=822747 |archive-date=2017-08-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 4, 2014, GCI Wireless agreed to purchase the wireless assets of Alaska Communications for $300 million. The deal was completed in the first quarter of 2015.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Alaska Communications Completes the Sale of its Wireless Business |url=http://www.alaskacommunications.com/-/media/Files/Press-Releases/2015/ALSK_News_2015_2_2_General-(1).pdf |publisher=Alaska Communications |date=2015-02-02}}</ref>

In July 2021, Alaska Communications was acquired by the Nasdaq-listed company ATN International Inc. for $343 million. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2021/07/23/alaska-communications-sold-to-east-coast-firm-and-investors-for-343-million/ |date=July 23, 2021 |title=Alaska Communications sold to East Coast firm and investors for $343 million |work=Anchorage Daily News}}</ref>

==Current Projects== On May 25, 2017, Alaska Communications announced it will be offering Internet services via OneWeb.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Alaska Communications Signs Memorandum of Understanding with OneWeb to Become the First Reseller in Alaska |url=http://www.alaskacommunications.com/-/media/Files/Press-Releases/2017/ALSK_News_2017_5_25_General.pdf |publisher=Alaska Communications |date=2017-05-25}}</ref>

Alaska Communications has an agreement with Quintillion to use its submarine fiber optic cable to bring new services to some of Alaska's northernmost communities: Utqiaġvik, Nome, Kotzebue, Point Hope and Wainwright.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Alaska Communications Contracts with Quintillion to Secure Fiber Optic Access for Northwest Alaska |url=http://www.alaskacommunications.com/-/media/Files/Press-Releases/2017/ALSK_News_2017_3_8_General.pdf |publisher=Alaska Communications |date=2017-03-08}}</ref>

thumb|Business Technology Center located in Anchorage, Alaska.

==Community work== Alaska Communications supports United Way, Junior Achievement, the University of Alaska, 90% by 2020, and FIRST in Alaska.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.alaskacommunications.com/About/Our-Work-in-the-Community | title=Our Work in the Community - Alaska Communications}}</ref> It also partners with [https://bgcalaska.org/ Boys and Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska] to put on Summer of Heroes, a program which awards scholarships to youth who are engaged in community service.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.alaskacommunications.com/About/Summer-of-Heroes | title=Summer of Heroes - Alaska Communications}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== <!-- Do not add forum, reseller, spam links to this article --> * {{Official website |http://www.alaskacommunications.com/}}

{{Finance links | name = Alaska Communications Group Inc | symbol = ALSK | sec_cik = 1089511 | hoovers = Alaska_Communications_Systems_Group_Inc.9c01f8c592398607 }} {{ATN International}}{{United States telephone companies}} {{US mobile phone companies}}

Category:Communications in Alaska Category:Companies based in Anchorage, Alaska Category:Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States Category:1998 establishments in Alaska Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1998 Category:American companies established in 1998