Alternatives to Satcom?

摘要

Promising "affordable local cell time" and no busy signals, a new venture by Alaska Wireless Communications LLC is elbowing its way into a market that had been exclusively served by Bristol Bay Cellular. Cell phone users in Dutch will almost certainly see the new competition drive down cell rates. The question is whether they'll get too much of a good thing. Bristol Bay Cellular lost $1 million last year on its cell service, which covers Dutch Harbor, St. George/St. Paul, Kodiak Togiak, and most of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery. This year, says general manager Steve Bartlett, the company lost $750,000. Losses are projected to continue in 2003, he says - an estimated $650,000 shortfall. "I'm not sure we can survive," he says.