Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. has expanded its CDMA voice and data network to the Fairbanks area, extending the company's enhanced coverage into the Interior.

"We are working hard to bring the most comprehensive wireless mobile voice and data coverage to the most vital regions," said president and CEO Liane Pelletier.

CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. The technology provides high-quality voice, fast wireless data speeds, and a high level of security through its coding and GPS location capabilities.

In addition to the wireless mobile voice and high data speeds inherent to the CDMA network, ACS previously deployed EV-DO capabilities in Fairbanks and North Pole. The high-speed data connections provide 3G technology in the Interior with peak data speeds at 2.4 Mbps.

The new CDMA cell sites are located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Eielson Air Force Base, outside Bentley Mall in Fairbanks, and along Chena Hot Springs Road. These new sites were added over the course of the last few months as part of the company's work to cover 80 percent of the state's population with CDMA technology by the middle of next year. The most recent tower was turned up at UAF Dec. 15.

ACS also has recently opened a new store in Anchorage's Dimond Center. The Dimond location is the first in a series of store upgrades the company has planned over the next few years. A newly remodeled store in the lobby of ACS corporate headquarters in Anchorage will open during the first quarter of 2006. The new store carries the entire ACS product line.

ACS is an integrated communications provider in Alaska, offering local telephone service, wireless, long distance, data and Internet services to business and residential customers.