4GLTE Service On Its Way to Alaska

Wireless carriers building infrastructure for ultra-fast wireless speeds

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By John Thain

Story Created: Sep 30, 2012 at 8:27 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2012 at 8:27 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - It’s good news for those of you with smart phones.

You could soon be getting speeds 10 times faster than what you're used to up here.

At the Kaladi Brother’s in Midtown, it's hard to even imagine a world without smart phones.

Many people are finding that they rely on their phones more then ever before.

But can local wireless companies handle the demand?

Some people have noticed their phones work better in cities anywhere but Alaska.

But that's changing fast. Right now, most of the smart phones here run at 3G speed. 4G HSPA+ is three times faster. But 4GLTE is ten times faster, and AT&T just brought it to Alaska last month.

But they're not the only company with plans to offer those speeds

Both ACS and GCI are putting the finishing touches on their own LTE network. Both providers say they expect to flip the 4G switch before the end of this year.

As if that wasn't enough competition, construction is in full swing at the brand new switch facility for Verizon Wireless.

They haven't officially announced their timeline, but said the network will be ready for customers in 2013.

It’s technology that's been making our lives easier, now doing it even faster.

This new speed won't do you any good unless you have an LTE capable phone. AT&T and Verizon have offered them for over a year now. ACS just started taking orders for its first LTE smartphone. GCI just started selling the iPhone 5.

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Jim Donahue said on Sunday, Sep 30 at 3:01 PM

I quick comparison of plans show that when Verizon gets here they will be slightly cheaper than ACS offering unlimited talk & text plus 6gb data versus unlimited talk and text plus 5gb data. Not much of a difference except that Verizon will be using the far superior 700mhz frequencies offering much better reception in building etc. Advantage Verizon.

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DJ said on Monday, Oct 1 at 7:07 AM

Will any service be added to Prudhoe Bay?

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Wait Wat? said on Monday, Oct 1 at 7:08 AM

SOoooooo... there is no wireless internet to the home on this plan? I doubt its going to be particularly fast then. Oh Well. Maybe someday Google Fiber will come to Anchorage.

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