Alaska Communications brings SIP trunking to SMBs, enterprises in Anchorage

Alaska Communications (ACS) is now offering SIP trunking services to Anchorage businesses, the latest in a series of moves it has made to enhance its wireline service focus.  

While the SIP trunking service is IP-based, the service provider said that it does not require a small to medium sized business (SMB) or enterprise business to forklift their current PBX or key system to get the new functions.

"Customers can use their existing phone systems to get the best in class voice quality on a highly secure, private network," said Eric Lazo, vice president of Product Management and Marketing for ACS, in a release.

The new SIP trunking service offers various calling features such as simultaneous ringing, selective call rejection, delayed call forwarding, and a web portal administrator that allows IT staff to move, add or change phone services.

SIP trunking is a service opportunity on the rise that service providers overall are eager to cash in on.

According to Infonetics, the SIP trunking market is forecast reach $8 billion in 2018. Interestingly, SIP trunking is being sold along with a mix of hosted PBX and unified communications (UC) services to accommodate businesses' desires for hybrid solutions.

Already, ACS' SIP trunking service has been adopted by LCG Lantech, an Anchorage-based architecture, engineering and surveying firm.

Providing SIP trunking is part of a broader set of service initiatives ACS has been taking on since it sold off its remaining wireless assets for $300 million to GCI Communications in December. By no longer having to maintain the wireless business, the service provider can now focus more of its attention on the broadband and managed IT solutions businesses it is trying to grow.

For more:
- see the release (.pdf)

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