Alaska Communications Systems Tops 100,000 Wireless Subscribers

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

    ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. ("ACS") (NASDAQ:ALSK) announced that in December it reached a major growth milestone by topping 100,000 wireless subscribers. In the past year, the company's base of wireless subscribers has grown by 15 percent. Number portability, introduced May 2004, continues to be a driving force enabling ACS to gain share in the Alaskan market, with three out of four users who port their cellular telephone numbers choosing ACS.
    Since joining ACS as president and chief executive officer in October 2003, Liane Pelletier has shifted the company's focus to growing customer loyalty by investing in customer service and advanced wireless technology. Evidence of this strategy's success is the fact that more customers are opting for two-year contracts, more customers are using mobile data services including high-speed wireless broadband and more customers are integrating their ACS wireless with their ACS local wireline services. Since launching CDMA last summer, ACS has implemented voice roaming agreements with the two largest CDMA carriers in the U.S. and plans to introduce data roaming when roaming partners are ready.

    About Alaska Communications Systems

    ACS is the leading integrated communications provider in Alaska, offering local telephone service, wireless, long distance, data, and Internet services to business and residential customers throughout Alaska. More information can be found on the company's website at www.acsalaska.com or at its investor site at www.alsk.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Statements about future results and other expectations constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations and the current economic environment. The company cautions that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of factors in addition to those discussed herein could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The company's financial planning is affected by business and economic conditions and changes in customer order patterns. Any projections are inherently subject to significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of ACS. Important assumptions and other important factors, including risk factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, are specified in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and other filings with the SEC. The company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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CONTACT: Alaska Communications Systems Mary Ann Pease, 907-297-3000 mpease@acsalaska.com or Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates ACS Investors: Kirsten Chapman, 415-433-3777 David Barnard, CFA, 415-433-3777 david@lhai-sf.com

KEYWORD: ALASKA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOURCE: Alaska Communications Systems

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