Qwest Communications Makes Headway with Advanced Broadband Services

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Qwest Communications Makes Headway with Advanced Broadband Services

6:15 am on May 15, 2008 | Category: Telecom Services, Internet, Television

American telecom giant, Qwest Communications, is exceeding its goals in terms of 12- to 20-Mbps fiber-optic broadband take up, but has no plans to accelerate the expansion of its FTTN network for the time being.

“The early returns are good,” said Qwest CEO, Ed Mueller. The company is spending approximately $300 million to offer advanced broadband services to 1.5 million households, representing a little over 10% of its 13-million-home service footprint.

Mueller explained that his company is “focused on free cash flow,” and will be “disciplined” about any further expansion, but noted that its current high-speed internet offerings, together with DirecTV satellite television service, gives it a strong competitive position against cable rivals.

As far as wireless goes, Qwest says that it will begin marketing the services of its new cellular partner, Verizon Wireless, this summer, while winding down its existing MVNO partnership with Sprint Nextel.

Mueller said that Qwest “won’t kick people off the (Sprint) network,” but will seek to migrate its mobile phone customers to Verizon as quickly as possible.