Alaska Cellular Reviews
General Alaska Observations: What limited information we have is based more from visitors than locals. Alaska Communication Systems (ACS) has the coverage advantage and provides a good value. Also, their relationship with Verizon Wireless gives them a leg up on mainland roaming. Alaska Digitel ranks next, especially with their newly-acquired spectrum that enables them to offer more broadband features. Equally effective in second place is AT&T which has been voted best cell phone/wireless provider in Alaska by Anchorage Daily News readers. MTA Wireless deserves consideration, but we have received little information about them. In some towns, wireless carriers like GCI have constructed a cell site with federal money to provide service where landlines have not been installed.

ARCTIC SLOPE TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION COOPERATIVE
ASTAC is rapidly rolling out new GSM service across the very northern tip of Alaska. Plans are expensive and Long Distance charges are extra. As part of the local telephone cooperative, service is very good and local citizens are becoming very loyal to this new, hometown wireless supplier.

AT&T
AT&T is what was once Cingular, which was part of SBC, which took over AT&T Wireless and took AT&T's name. They have a large GSM network, but in the west, have a lot less developed spectrum than in the rest of the country. That is changing with AT&T's acquisition of Alltel Wireless in 76 markets in the western US. They claim that their Alltel purchases will all be converted to 3G GSM by July, 2011. Parts of the Alltel network already provide GSM coverage. Other areas will be converted on a market-by-market basis. With GSM technology, AT&T will roam more readily internationally, but there are areas in the US with no GSM coverage. AT&T's takeover of several cellular networks has improved their service in some areas already, including Alaska. AT&T offers a good selection of GSM phones including the Apple iPhone. Parts of what was the old AT&T Wireless network in the interior west is still not among the best. They still suffer from some coverage 'holes', but they are updating some of these areas. Most improvements will be made in the "new" markets and increasing data capacity instead of adding cell sites in older areas. In several markets where AT&T operates at 1900 MHz only, we have been disappointed, but not all AT&T 1900 MHz-only markets are equal. AT&T offers a variety of plans including Unlimited minutes and services, and 'calling circle' plans. They have extensive data coverage. One of their greatest assets is also their worst problem: the overwhelming success of the Apple iPhone that mostly uses the AT&T network. It has overloaded their system resulting in dropped calls, interrupted data and slower service.

Pros: AT&T has a large network and covers much of the nation, usage is transparent whether on- or off-network, good digital and data services, good national plans, "Rollover" for those who can use it, "Unlimited" calling plans available, a good selection of phones. Improvements in coverage have been substantial in some areas, lacking in others. Excellent international roaming capabilities, and AT&T will now supply the unlock code for all phones, except the iPhone, after 3 to 10 months. Additions of Alltel, Unicel and Centennial network purchases give AT&T substantial rural coverage improvements.
Cons: AT&T plans aren't as generous as some, customers can only access GSM networks which are not as universally available in the US as CDMA, customer service varies from above to below average, some markets have a large number of dropped calls caused by large data users.
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BRISTOL BAY CELLULAR
Coverage available across the Aleutian Islands where service is available. Plans are limited and are pricey for local coverage. We believe their system is still analog-only and you must apply to be able to roam on their system, and only if you have an analog-capable phone. Lifeline plans are available.

COPPER VALLEY WIRELESS
Good local coverage serving Valdez, AK and northward. Reasonable price plans with statewide and mainland US roaming included. They have a relatively good selection of CDMA phones. As part of the local telecommunications co-op, service is a little above average and bundle discounts are available.

CORDOVA WIRELESS
Cordova is part of the Cordova Telephone Cooperative along the south coast of Alaska, south of Valdez. They have a small selection of GSM phones but it includes smart phones. They have a number of rate plans including Local, Statewide and National plans, but no Unlimited plan. They have reasonable prices for Local and Statewide service, but rates for National plans start at a high rate. There may not be any other service in the area.

GCI CELLULAR
Good coverage and they offer both statewide and mainland US Unlimited minute plans. They also have capped statewide and National plans which are reasonable. They have a reasonable selection of GSM phones. They have government-supported Lifeline wireless service, especially where there are no landlines.

MTA WIRELESS
They have good statewide coverage and offer Unlimited statewide voice minutes. They have a number of other Local and National plans starting as low as $10 per month. Their National Unlimited calling plans are slightly higher than average. They have a reasonable selection of CDMA phones.

OTZ CELLULAR
This is the cellular division of the OTZ Telephone Cooperative in Kotzebue, AK in the northwest part of the state. Plans include Unlimited minutes, however Roaming and Long Distance are extra on all plans. Rates are reasonable but do not include statewide roaming. Some plans require having OTZ landline service, but customers can get a "bundle" discount on cellular service.

TRACFONE
Tracfone isn't an actual cellular carrier but is a major supplier of wireless phones and service. They are the largest prepaid cellular company and arrange for their phones to use whichever wireless carrier is available in a given geographic area. As a result, Tracfone actually has more included roaming coverage available than perhaps any other single company. They offer price points that start below $9 a month and offer all the advantages of prepaid services. They also feature monthly plans and offer promotions with bonus minutes, and plans with 365-day expiration. Their service is mostly limited to Voice and Text but does support data use of their web-capable phones. They offer the option of having the charges deducted from your credit card or charge account automatically, eliminating the need to renew on an exact expiration date. TracFone offers Free international calls to about 60 countries by calling a special number, and with their International Neighbors features, can provide a local number in Mexico or Canada for incoming calls from those countries at Local rates for both callers. Tracfone offers additional plan options through NET10.
Pros: Coverage and Local service, available virtually everywhere in the US, good price plans with no roaming or long distance charges, Local numbers in all markets, included Long Distance calling to 60 countries. Cons: They have a small selection of phones, no smart phones, coverage is determined by the phone model (CDMA or GSM) which may limit your roaming coverage, no roaming outside the US.
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