GCI Plans Custom Antennas Ideal for Rural Users
Swedish company Kaelus is making new antennas that are specially designed for GCI’s rural wireless deployments.
Photo Credit: GCI
GCI is partnering with Kaelus, a Swedish company known for driving innovation in the wireless communications market, to bring rural Alaskans more options to keep connected in areas lacking cell service.
Kaelus partnered with GCI to create the antenna, which weighs only 50 pounds. That makes it significantly lighter than the larger-scale wireless equipment necessary in large, densely populated areas.
Lighter and More Effective
One-size-fits-all solutions are rarely the answer in Alaska, and mobile connectivity is no exception. GCI announced this month its plan to partner with Kaelus to bring custom antennas to wireless deployments in rural Alaska.
“Prior to the development of this antenna, our only option was to deploy multi-sector urban solutions in rural Alaska, which was not an efficient way to improve mobile connectivity in small, remote communities,” says GCI Principal Program Manager Chris Galipeau. “Kaelus’ new antenna design simplifies rural deployments by reducing the need for multiple sector antennas and their associated equipment. This not only cuts down on the weight and space required on towers but also minimizes power consumption and infrastructure costs.”
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March 2025
The Kaelus Quasi-Omni antenna, specially designed for GCI, offers 360-degree coverage and supports all 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G frequencies. The antennas require only one-third of the supporting equipment compared to traditional urban deployments, making them ideal for rural applications.
“We are thrilled to partner with GCI on the development of this custom antenna,” says Kaelus CTO Martin Lundhagen. “Our goal is to deliver innovative solutions that meet the specific needs of our clients, and this project is a perfect example of that. We look forward to seeing this new antenna in action in some of the most-remote and most-challenging environmental conditions in North America.”
More than 97 percent of Alaskans live within GCI’s network footprint. Founded in Alaska, GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colorado-based Liberty Broadband Corporation.
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