Price/ Fees:  

Laptop Computers

If you choose to ACS’s Mobile Broadband service without also being a voice customer of the company, the monthly service charge is $80.00. If you’re also a voice customer, the fee for this service is discounted substantially to just $30.00. Perhaps most significantly for residents of Alaska, the charge is for unlimited data within the state. Outside of Alaska, the monthly fee includes 40MB of roaming data. That’s likely to be adequate if you limit your data usage to email. If you exceed the 40MB limit, you’ll be subjected to a $3.00/MB overage fee. That adds up very quickly, i.e. 1GB of usage would cost $3,072.00!

ACS offers the required data card for $99.99 after rebate with a 2-year contract. There is also a $35 activation fee but ACS is liberal about waiving it so it can’t hurt to ask. The Early Termination Fee for cancelling service before contract’s end is $175.00.

Smartphones

ACS also offers a data plan for use on smartphones. It’s $40.00 monthly in addition to the charges for a voice plan.

Network Speed:  

ACS has kept pace with the competition where some other regional carriers have faltered. Their CDMA network offers true broadband EVDO Rev A in most of Alaska’s larger towns as well as a number of areas in southern Canada. Just remember that when you’re outside of Alaska you’re capped at 40MB of data usage or you’ll incur outrageous charges.

Network Coverage:  

This site is generally aimed towards nationwide providers. It wouldn’t be reasonable of us to try to compare ACS’ Mobile Broadband on that basis. It is, however, worthy of noting the superior coverage that ACS provides within the state of Alaska and many population centers in Canada.

Data Network Reliability:  

ACS is Alaska’s leading provider of wireless broadband and operates using an EVDO Rev A network that is virtually identical, though on a smaller scale, as Verizon Wireless and Sprint. Network availability and reliability is predictably excellent.

Help/Support:  

As a relatively small carrier, ACS has not been a subject of the massive customer service surveys that rate the nationwide Wireless Broadband providers. Our admittedly limited interaction with their customer service personnel was second to none. Representatives consistently answered our detailed questions without having to put us on hold to look up answers and above all, they were actually friendly.

ACS isn’t likely to be the carrier of choice for people who don’t spend most of their time in Alaska simply because of its limited coverage. On the other hand, if you do typically find yourself in the Last Frontier or roaming in Canada, this service provides unique options that could make it your best bet.