2027 Winter Conference
Outrigger Kona Resort
January 24 - 27, 2027
Welcome
The Alaska Telecom Association’s Winter Conference is a long-standing, nationally attended event that brings together telecommunications professionals from across Alaska, the Lower 48, and Canada. The conference is an important forum for sharing expertise, exploring new technologies, and advancing telecommunications services in Alaska and other challenging operating environments.
Alaska’s telecommunications providers operate in some of the most demanding conditions in North America, facing extreme climates, vast and often roadless geography, limited construction seasons, and very small customer bases. The Winter Conference brings together professionals with extensive, hands-on experience overcoming these challenges to share practical solutions, operational insights, and innovative approaches to network deployment and operations.
The ATA Winter Conference has a long history of bringing together telecommunications professionals from across North America, with recent participation representing 28 states and Canada. The event follows a traditional industry conference format, combining educational sessions, professional networking, and opportunities to engage with vendors and industry specialists.
Participants include network operators, engineers, technical specialists, and industry experts with deep experience connecting remote and underserved communities. This concentration of expertise creates valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge on infrastructure deployment, network resilience, regulatory frameworks, and evolving technologies, particularly as they apply to Alaska, Arctic, and other high-cost environments.
A key benefit of the conference is the opportunity to engage directly with a wide range of vendors and specialized professional service providers in one place. Equipment manufacturers, engineers, and financial and regulatory experts with experience in Alaska’s telecommunications environment bring valuable knowledge and resources to the event. These connections allow providers to efficiently evaluate technologies, explore solutions, and access specialized expertise that would otherwise require substantial time and travel to obtain individually.
Join us for a unique opportunity to learn from and collaborate with some of North America's most experienced telecommunications professionals, whose expertise in challenging operating environments helps shape the future of connectivity in Alaska and beyond.
ATA is excited to share relevant topics for discussion at the 2027 Winter Conference. The schedule is currently being finalized. For making travel reservations, a general outline of the schedule is below:
Sunday, Jan 24 - Welcome Reception (4pm - 5:30pm)
Monday, Jan 25 - General Sessions (9am - 3pm) and Flip Flop Soiree (4:30pm - 6pm)
Tuesday, Jan 26 - Wake-up Breakfast (8:30am - 9:30am) and General Sessions (10am - 3pm)
Wednesday, Jan 27 - ATA Board Meeting (10am) and Closing Banquet (6pm - 10pm)
We will be hosting the ATA Winter Conference at the Outrigger Kona Resort along the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Reservations for the ATA room block can be made online at Outrigger Kona Guest Room Reservations. Guest rooms can be reserved between January 21 - 31, and all reservations must be completed by Friday, January 1, 2027.
Sponsorships are a great way to increase your company’s exposure and to connect with potential customers. Please consider a sponsorship package for 2027. With your support of Alaska Telecom Association, we can continue to share current industry information, build coalitions and advocate on behalf of industry in Alaska. Not sure which level is right for you or have some other ideas? Contact Shari Showalter at (907) 563–4000 or showalter@alaskatel.org. We can work together to build an appropriate package to effectively deliver your marketing message!
The Outrigger Kona Resort is roughly 16 miles south from the Kona International Airport (KOA). Rental cars are available at the airport, as are taxis, shuttles and ride shares.
SpeediShuttle is an often used shuttle service on the island and reservations can be made online.
Lyft and Uber are available on the island, but are limited, especially in the more remote areas. If you plan to use a ride share, secure a reservation well in advance of your arrival.
Taxis are available as well. However, you should not count on flagging one down on the street when needing one. Make a reservation in advance with one of the taxi companies on the island.
Transport
Attire
Given the island atmosphere in Hawaii, dress at the conference is business casual with a tropical twist. The ballrooms are air conditioned during the presentation sessions. For events outdoors, Hawaii's day temperatures are in the low 80's and night temperatures are in the high 60's.