Photos: Alaska Communications adapting to focus more on broadband, business

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Alaska Communications journeyman cable splicer Tara Thornton separates strands of fiber optic cable before splicing them with a fusion splicer at a junction in East Anchorage on Friday, November 7, 2014. The company is expanding their fiber optic backbone into every Anchorage School District school.

With the arrival of national wireless company Verizon in the Alaska market, local wireless providers are facing growing competition for mobile customers. One local telecom company says it's adapting by working to provide services that national competitors like Verizon and AT&T can't offer.

Alaska Communications, which traces its roots to the founding of the Juneau Douglas Telephone company in 1893, has seen many booms and a few busts over the last 120 years but believes it is now in a strong position to compete and succeed in an competitive Alaska market. With more than $300 million in expected revenue for 2014, the company -- better known to many Alaskans as "ACS" -- is experiencing a rebirth of sorts. After rebounding from years of crippling debt, ACS released its third-quarter financial results on Wednesday, predicting $92 million in net profit for this year. Faced with increased wireless competition, Alaska Communications is focusing its growth on business and residential broadband internet services and IT work.

Alaska Communications expects to see as much as 50 percent growth in business broadband and IT services over the next few years. And while it still offers wireless phone service, the company's CEO says its future relies on being strong where Outside companies are weak: local service and Internet solutions.

"When you compete with national providers, it is really important for us to compete in these segments where we add value," said President and CEO Anand Vadapalli.

Read more: At Alaska Communications, adaptation is a path to profit