DIDs FEATURED ARTICLE

After Alaska Communications (News - Alert) began SIP trunking service in Anchorage in March, coverage has expanded throughout Alaska. Thanks to the installation of additional lines, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Kenai also have SIP trunking.

Anchorage-based Alaska Communications Systems Group (ACS (News - Alert)) provides telecommunications and Internet service to businesses and residences in the state. The company had been in the wireless business, but after accumulating considerable debt, sold that division to General Communications in December 2014. The deal allows ACS to focus more on the broadband and managed services segment of the market.

One of the important selling points of ACS’ SIP trunking service back in March is that it would not require businesses to uproot existing PBX (News - Alert) installations. This flexibility allows businesses uncomfortable with making wholesale changes to their phone service to begin using Internet telephony gradually or have a hybrid solution.

That is an important feature. For all the talk about cloud-based phone systems, hybrid systems are still popular with many businesses. Interactive Intelligence was recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) in part for its flexibility in offering hybrid systems.

This applies to UC solutions too. In an interview with Redmond Magazine, Microsoft’s (News - Alert) Mark Achzenick said, “Typically, enterprises are still going to do hybrid.”

In addition to SIP trunks, ACS has been very aggressive in improving communications infrastructure in other areas. Back in May, the company partnered with Quintillion holdings to acquire a fiber optic network located on the state’s North Slope from ConocoPhillips. This area is in a more remote part of the state, adjacent to the Arctic Ocean.

The numbers alone strongly suggest that ACS’ move to ditch wireless service was financially sound, as it reduced the company’s debt to levels consistent with other telecoms and made the company more attractive to lenders.

What’s also important is that it freed the company up to pursue other communications projects that made more sense. This is not only good for the area’s businesses, but it also opens up service to remote areas that were previously underserved.