GCI, Alaska’s first technology startup, has been a trailblazer since its 1979 inception. Company founder Ron Duncan partnered with Bob Walp to create a long-distance phone service provider that gave Alaskans more affordable options to communicate across the country. At that time, long-distance phone calls cost Alaskans $1 per minute. GCI pioneered DAMA satellite communication to deliver in-state long distance, and introduced competitive facilities-based local phone service, saving Alaskans millions of dollars with this new technology.
Ron and Bob recognized the disparities in communications across our great state, and saw the need and potential for connecting Alaskans. From here, their vision expanded to include building a statewide communications infrastructure, and what began as a local long-distance phone company, grew to become Alaska’s communications backbone.
More than forty years and $4 billion in investments later, GCI is the most comprehensive communications network in the state, employing 2,000 Alaskans and providing superior telecom services, even to the most remote regions. We’ve partnered with businesses and organizations of all sizes, in a broad spectrum of industries, helping them fulfill their potential and reach even greater goals.
From education, energy, financial institutions, government, healthcare, transportation and logistics, and other Alaska industries, businesses trust GCI as their preferred telecommunications provider to expand their connectivity.
GCI continues to innovate and expand an extraordinary Alaska network, dedicated to our neighbors and customers and to meeting their growing needs, while developing our business in Alaska and the lower 49.