AST Telecom, LLC
Conducting operations under the BlueSky brand, AST Telecom is a leading provider of wireless, long distance and dial-up, broadband and wireless Internet services in the island nation of American Samoa. BlueSky maintains a dominant market position through its commitment to customer service, network reliability and service plan offerings that serve the distinct needs of its customers.
Since establishing operations in 2003, BlueSky has grown its business to nearly USD $9.9 million and established a 70 percent market share for its wireless operations. The company’s success in its wireless business paired with strong consumer demand allowed it to expand its offerings into Internet and long-distance services.
As a key part of its strategy, BlueSky Communications maintains a premier retail location in the heart of American Samoa and employs a knowledgeable sales team that supports the company’s full line of communications services. In addition, the company has established marketing relationships with local partners that allow it to offer products and services through more than 200 retail locations.
Wireless
BlueSky delivers high-quality, convenient wireless service through both prepaid and post-paid plans. Customers can purchase a phone or activate an existing phone at BlueSky’s premier retail location or purchase a prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card at one of 200 retail locations throughout American Samoa. Post-paid wireless plans are available for larger business customers.
BlueSky provides service via a 100 percent digital GSM 1900 MHz network through its 12 cell towers offering coverage to all populated areas as well as up to 35 miles out to sea. The company employs both circuit-switched and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) circuits that take advantage of the latest technology in bandwidth management and compression to ensure high quality and future network scalability.
The company serves more than 18,000 customers and maintains a 70 percent market share for wireless services in American Samoa.
Internet
Through its BlueLink brand, BlueSky provides customers with Internet services including dial-up, DSL broadband and mobile Internet service options. In addition to providing access, BlueLink offers Wi-Fi service, virtual LANs, web hosting as well as installation and support. As a reseller of DSL technology, the company provides its large business customers with reliable, high-speed Internet that surpasses customer expectations in the South Pacific.
Through the convergence of voice and data technology, the company is increasingly less reliant on reselling service as it has begun delivering service via its owned and operated secure wireless data Gig-E network. This technology development will allow BlueSky to further expand its future product and service offerings to meet increasing customer demand.
Wireline Telecommunications
BlueSky provides equal access long distance service to landline telephone customers in American Samoa. Customers choose BlueSky as an alternative long distance company by dialing 1+ the area code + the telephone number to place calls.
On May 23, 2006, the FCC designated AST Telecom as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to receive Universal Service Funding (USF). As a result of this designation and because the company provides service in rural areas, AST Telecom receives USF to support the company’s provision of services.
Countries Served:
American Samoa
Employees:
59 full-time
Subscribers:
18,162 wireless subscribers
722 equal access long distance
customers
510 Internet customers
AST Telecom Leadership:
Jeff Harlow, Chief Operating Officer
eLandia International
Ownership:
100 percent
Company Website:
www.blueskynet.as
Information Current as
of December 2006
