For the sixth-straight year, GCI has been named Alaska’s fastest ISP by PCMag.com. GCI set a record high PCMag Speed Index score of 149.0 this year, improving its 2020 score by 15 points. The company states that the score places it well above national providers like Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Spectrum.
Heather Handyside, GCI’s Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Engagement:
“This PC Magazine every year rates internet service providers across the nation and gives them a score based on several different variables. Last year, GCI was the fastest provider in Alaska. This year, we’re the fastest provider, but I think, more importantly, even, is when you compare our scores with scores of big companies like Charter and Cox and Comcast in the lower 48, we’re faster than many of them. We’re really proud to have received this score.”
In order to determine a provider’s PSI score, PCMag incorporated 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.
It’s also worth noting that GCI intends on increasing their internet speeds to 2 gigs soon:
“GCI announced in May that in 2022, we’ll be delivering two gigabit speeds to our Alaska customers who, right now, have one gig speeds. That means that 77% of Alaskans will have access to two gigs. It will be the fastest speeds available to consumers anywhere in the nation. We’re seeing kind of little tiny neighborhoods in the lower 48 start to get these two gig speeds from big providers like Google Fiber, but when GCI rolls out 2 gigs, we will reach, by far, more customers across the state than in any other state in the nation.”
GCI’s investment in its network doesn’t just mean faster internet speeds, it’s also laying the groundwork for improved wireless service to its customers. The company launched Alaska’s first 5G network in Anchorage in 2020 and is planning on launching 5G in other Alaska communities this year.