Qwest Signs $107 Million Capacity Agreement With Cable & Wireless, Inc.; Cable & Wireless, Inc. Becomes First Major Carrier to Become QwestLinked
Business Wire - February 26, 1998 07:47
%QWEST QWST %COLORADO %CALIFORNIA %OHIO %TELECOMMUNICATIONS %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %COMED V%BW P%BW
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1998--Qwest, a multimedia communications company building the world's most advanced fiber optic network, today announced a five year contract worth $107 million to provide capacity on Qwest's U.S. network to Cable & Wireless, Inc. (CWI), the largest telecommunications carrier in the U.S. exclusively serving the business market.
"We're pleased Cable & Wireless has chosen Qwest as a network capacity provider," said Joseph P. Nacchio, president and CEO for Qwest. "Cable & Wireless's reputation for quality and customer satisfaction is unsurpassed, and this relationship will allow them to expand their network and products using the reliability and security of the Qwest Macro Capacity(SM) Fiber Network."
"After an extensive comparison of wholesale Carriers, we chose Qwest because of their commitment to leading edge network technology and to servicing their customers," said Richard Yalen, CEO of CWI. "Cable & Wireless, Inc. is pleased to become a part of the QwestLinked(TM) co-marketing program, meeting the criteria of rigorous standards in customer support, performance, market reputation and excellent financial standing."
The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network
Qwest's planned domestic 16,285 mile network will serve more than 125 cities, which represent approximately 80% of the data and voice traffic originating in the United States, upon its scheduled completion in the second quarter of 1999. Currently, more than 3,600 miles are activated from Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio. Qwest is also extending its network 1,400 miles into Mexico with completion slated for late third quarter 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.
About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. (NASDAQ:QWST) is a multimedia communications company building a high-capacity, fiber optic network for the 21st century. With its cutting-edge technology, Qwest will deliver high-quality data, video and voice connectivity securely and reliably to businesses, consumers and other communications service providers. Further information is available at www.qwest.net.
About Cable & Wireless, Inc.
Cable & Wireless, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cable and Wireless plc (NYSE:CWP), the world's most global integrated communications company, providing 15 million customers in over 70 countries with a range of international, domestic and mobile communications. CWI has been operational in the U.S. since 1975, and provides a wide range of domestic and international public networking services exclusively to businesses. Recently, CWI was featured in the business best seller, "Customer Intimacy," for its ability to establish and consistently deliver exceptional levels of customer service. For more information about Cable & Wireless, Inc. visit their website at www.cwi.net.
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Qwest with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Form 10-Q, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including potential fluctuations in quarterly results, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, failure to complete the network on schedule, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks.
QwestLinked is a trademark, and the Qwest logo is a registered trademark of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries.
CONTACT: Corporate Contact:
Qwest Communications
Diane Reberger, 303/291-1662
dreberge@qwest.net
qwest.net
or
Investor Contact:
Qwest Communications
Lee Wolfe, 800/567-7296
lwolfe@qwest.net
qwest.net
or
Media Contact:
Alexander Communications
Erin McKelvey, 303/615-5070
emckelvey@alexander-pr.com
alexander-pr.com
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