GCI Turns Alaska into the 'First Frontier' with 5G Service
Alaska has some of the most remote regions in the United States, with formidable weather and vast terrain that make bringing connectivity to parts of the state a challenge and huge undertaking. However, through GCI's deployment of high-speed internet to these areas, the Alaskan provider has allowed businesses, entrepreneurs, schools, and hospitals to thrive, boosting the quality of life for many residents there. In 2011, GCI built the TERRA network over 3,300 miles of land, bringing terrestrial broadband to 84 communities. Then in 2016, GCI brought gigabit service to Anchorage, and from there
10G at E3: Gigabit Means Gaming
Gamers rejoice! The annual E3 conference kicked off in Los Angeles this week, bringing buzz-worthy announcements and highly anticipated product releases. While gaming has always been a large industry, it only continues to grow. In fact, 75 percent of U.S. households now have at least one gamer, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Esports have also entered the playing field, with the industry expected to achieve an audience of 453 million and have a market of more than $1 billion globally by the end of the year. With more and more users, and new technologies leading to
IDEA Turns Immersive Media From Fantasy to Reality
Light field displays used to be a fantasy dream that audiences saw in science fiction movies, but today they are well on their way to becoming part of our lives. Behind the scenes, engineers like Arianne Hinds, principal architect and futurist at CableLabs, are helping to bring this and other futuristic experiences to users. Immersive technology displays that involve VR, AR, light field holodecks, and stereoscopic 3D are just around the corner. With 10G on the horizon—the cable industry's initiative to bring 10 gigabit speeds to homes—all of these interactive applications have the ability to
Securing our Home and our Networks in an Internet-of-Things Future
The IoT universe is exploding. All one has to do is look around and see the smart gadgets, wearables, cameras, and virtual assistants that populate homes and that people take with them on the go. The number of IoT devices connecting to broadband networks is already large, but nowhere near its peak. Technology forecasts predict there will be 22 billion internet-connected devices worldwide by 2025, triple the amount there are today. This explosion will bring consumers added value and convenience, however it also adds new complexity and security risks that could prove devastating to millions of
Gigabit Gains Popularity with American Consumers
With 80 percent of U.S. homes now having access to internet service offering speeds of 1 gigabit per second, American internet networks are continually reaching new heights. The good news is that consumers say they want to go along for the ride and the majority are now looking forward to joining the gigabit movement. That’s according to a recent Morning Consult survey which reports that over half of Americans today (55 percent) say they are interested in subscribing to gigabit speed internet service. The same survey asked consumers about the attributes they see important for future internet
Is a Gigabit the Same as a Gigabyte?
Gigabit. Gigabyte. You've heard and seen these words before, but do you really know what they mean? Below is a quick crash course on bits and bytes, and what they mean for consumers. This is especially helpful as 10G—the industry's initiative to bring 10 gigabit speeds to American households and businesses—gets closer to becoming reality. The best place to start is explaining the difference between gigabit and gigabyte, or, in more rudimentary terms, bit and byte. A bit measures data transfer rates over a network. For example, a gigabit connection transmits data at one billion bits per second
America's Future Looks Like 10G
"The destiny of our economy and the destiny of our future is heavily rooted in how successful we are as a technological empire, as an information economy, and one that can harvest the forces of technology and physics to its greatest benefit," said NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell earlier this year. Powell moderated a panel at CES in January that discussed the industry's 10G announcement, and the conversation around 10G continues this year to fuel the industry's direction towards faster internet speeds and robust broadband networks that will enable even more innovative products and services
Poll: Americans Say Fast Internet is Key to the Economy
The ripple effect of a powerful broadband connection is immeasurable when it comes to how internet connectivity positively impacts almost every facet of life in America, from healthcare to education to business to entertainment to personal connections. What's even more incredible is how it affects the U.S. economy, not just nationally but locally as well. As cable operators invest billions of dollars annually to upgrade and expand their networks, cities and towns all over the country benefit from business growth, a diverse workforce and connected consumers—whether it's a small village in
The Shrinking Cost of a Megabit
Data. It’s at the heart of our daily lives and the modern economy. More data means higher quality streaming movies, it means richer more immersive online games, it means stronger long-distance relationships with loved ones, but it also means busier networks. In fact, Cisco predicts that in the U.S. alone, internet traffic will triple by 2022. That’s why earlier this year the global cable industry announced the 10G initiative—a powerful technology platform that will deliver 10 gigabit speeds to consumer homes in the coming years. That means networks will be ready for data-intensive services
Dogs, Snow, and Internet: GCI Connects the Iditarod Race
Every March, for the past 46 years, more than 50 dog sled teams gather in Anchorage, Alaska, to make the journey towards Nome in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The race is Alaska's biggest sporting event, so it's no surprise that many natives treat it like many people treat the Superbowl. They gear up to cheer on the "mushers" (the dog sled riders) by painting their faces like huskies, donning foam fingers and dog ears, tailgating, and preparing meals for the mushers at the checkpoints. And every year, GCI—the state's largest internet service provider—works to bring internet connectivity to