Qwest Communications International Inc., today announced that it will purchase assets from Touch America allowing Qwest to support hundreds of frame r...

Qwest Communications International Inc., today announced that it will purchase assets from Touch America allowing Qwest to support hundreds of frame relay and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) customers. Also, Qwest will purchase from 360networks Corporation certain assets that help extend the Qwest nationwide high-speed data network. The agreement underscores Qwest’s commitment to its business customers who now can use Qwest as the one service provider for end-to-end frame relay and ATM data communications.

Customers affected are those with locations inside Qwest’s 14-state local service region, where the company has recently won the right to offer long-distance network services. Many of the customers are served by Qwest for frame relay and ATM service outside of its local service region, and now they will have the benefit of using a single, nationwide service provider for all their data networking requirements. “Customers will benefit from improved performance because they will have one service provider for all their data needs and one point of contact,” said Cliff Holtz, executive vice president for Qwest business markets group. “To complement their data, we can provide them with additional services such as voice and IP. In many cases, Qwest works with these customers in other areas and so we are pleased we can help them during this transition.”

As part of the agreement, Qwest will purchase from 360networks certain fiber network routes that extend the existing Qwest nationwide data network. The routes Qwest will purchase are Seattle to Billings, Mont.; Billings, Mont. to Denver; Denver to Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Billings, Mont. to Minneapolis. This agreement also resolves all outstanding disputes between Qwest and Touch America and 360networks regarding these assets, and 360networks has committed to supporting customers’ transition from Touch America to Qwest or another provider. Pending bankruptcy court approval, the agreement is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2003.


About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. is a leading provider of voice, video and data services to more than 25 million customers. The company’s 47,000 employees are committed to the “Spirit of Service” and providing world-class services that exceed customers’ expectations for quality, value and reliability.

For more information on Qwest, please visit www.qwest.com