Mark -
I strongly agree with your suggestions concerning this thread. I have a portfolio of about 15 stocks (including QWST), plus am following probably another 20. I personally (and I'm sure there are others out there like me), do not have the time to click through all kinds of extraneous messages, no matter how intellectually interesting they may be.
Concerning QWST, Frontier made a comment in their earnings report that QWST was behind on their network rollout. Here is QWST's answer:
biz.yahoo.com
Thursday July 23, 7:31 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network on Schedule and Under Budget
for Completion in 1999
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 1998--In response to comments made by Frontier Corporation [NYSE:FRO -
news] that raised questions about the construction of the Qwest network, Qwest today reaffirmed its planned 18,449-mile
nationwide fiber optic network is on schedule and on budget for completion by mid-1999.
Qwest has delivered 47 network segments to Frontier, all in compliance with the stated terms of its contract with Frontier,
and fully expects to deliver the remaining 18 network segments within contract compliance. Qwest anticipates its revenue
and earnings growth will remain strong as the construction of the Qwest Macro Capacity(SM) Fiber Network continues to
expand.
''Our network is a valuable asset and critical component for the successful implementation of our business plan, and we are
very pleased with the progress of this nationwide construction project,'' said Joseph P. Nacchio, president and CEO of
Qwest.
''It is unfortunate that Frontier believes Qwest is impacting their earnings in any way. We value all our customers, like
Frontier, and we will continue to work hard to provide them with the most advanced, secure fiber optic network in the
world.''
In addition, Qwest acknowledged Frontier's purchase of fiber in the Southeast United States from Williams was
understandable, as Qwest was not interested in pursuing that business opportunity with Frontier. Qwest remains the only
company with access to its entire 18,449-mile nationwide network.
The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network
Qwest's planned domestic 18,449-mile network will serve over 130 cities, which represent approximately 80 percent of the
data and voice traffic originating in the United States, upon its scheduled completion in the second quarter of 1999.
To date, more than 8,800 miles of the Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network are activated, including the transcontinental
segment that extends from Los Angeles to Sacramento and across to New York. Additionally, Qwest owns transatlantic
submarine capacity linking the United States to Europe including connections in London, Amsterdam and continental
Europe.
Qwest is also extending its network 1,400 miles into Mexico with completion slated for late 1998.
The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber network is designed with a highly reliable and secure bi-directional, line switching
OC-192 SONET ring architecture. Upon completion, the network will offer a self-healing system that provides the ultimate
security and reliability by allowing instantaneous rerouting in the event of a fiber cut. |
