Qwest Unveils 40 Mbps Downstream, 20 Mbps Upstream High-Speed Internet Service

July 20, 2009

5 Mbps Upstream for $5 Available to Qualifying Customers with 7 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 20 Mbps Service

DENVER, CO - Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q) has introduced the next evolution of its high-speed Internet services, delivering downstream connection speeds of 40 Mbps and upstream speeds of 20 Mbps*.

KEY FACTS

• Using next-generation VDSL2 broadband technology, Qwest doubles its fastest downstream connection speeds and increases upstream speeds - among the fastest available in the country - for qualifying residential and small-business customers.

• These new speed enhancements deliver faster video and picture sharing, better online video chat experiences and fewer delays in the popular Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). See the speed demonstration here.

• The faster speeds also complement current Qwest offerings, such as automatic online backup service and Video on Demand services through its DIRECTV partnership.

• Qwest has started to roll out these services on a limited basis in certain locations within its fiber-optic-fast Internet footprint, including Denver,Tucson, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. In the coming months, Qwest plans to introduce these services to select areas within 23 markets, including markets in New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

• This new product is being offered to qualifying customers at the following prices:
  • Connection speeds of 40 Mbps downstream with 5 Mbps upstream, starting at $99.99 a month for the first 12 months when combined with a qualifying home phone package.
  • Connection speeds of 40 Mbps downstream with 20 Mbps upstream, starting at $109.99 a month for the first 12 months when combined with a qualifying home phone package.
  • An introductory rate of $5 more a month for qualified customers with 7 Mbps, 12 Mbps or 20 Mbps speed tiers who upgrade to 5 Mbps upstream speeds. 
• Customers can go to www.qwest.com/morespeed to check availability and sign up to receive notification of faster speeds deployed to their neighborhood. 

• This technology expands on Qwest’s fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) deployment, which has reached more 2 million potential customers in its local service region.

SUPPORTING QUOTES

Neil E. Cox, executive vice president of Qwest Product and IT

“This is all about perfecting the customer experience by anticipating their needs and delivering products and services that often exceed expectations. By delivering the speeds customers want, we are able to complement their lifestyles with new capabilities that will enhance their broadband experience.”

“Faster download speeds are important, but upload speeds are getting more attention. By increasing connection speeds in both directions, Qwest is poised to support user-generated content and simultaneous high-bandwidth applications, like multiple online video streams and downloads or multiple players of online video games.”

Amy Lind, IDC Research Manager, Consumer Broadband and Mobile Services

“Broadband providers have primarily focused on download speeds because, until recently, the Internet has been mostly a source for content, especially online video. Now, as more people create and share their own content, upload speeds have become increasingly important.”

“Qwest has recognized this rapidly growing user-generated content trend and is encouraging the evolving Internet habits of its customers by adding new broadband tiers that emphasize upstream speeds.”

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

• Qwest Fiber-Optic Fast Internet Service and Availability: www.qwest.com/morespeed
• VDSL2 Broadband Fact Sheet here
• Speed Comparison Demo Video here

* Connection speeds are based on sync rates.  Download and upload speeds will be up to 15% lower due to network requirements and may vary for reasons such as customer location, Web sites accessed, Internet congestion and customer equipment.  

Qwest High-Speed Internet: Service not available in all areas. Fiber-optics exists from the neighborhood terminal to the Internet.  Speed tiers of 7 Mbps and lower are provided over fiber optics in selected areas only. Activation fee applies.  Prices exclude taxes, surcharges, and other fees.  With approved credit.  Requires compatible modem.  Subject to additional restrictions and subscriber agreement.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

Copyright © 2009 Qwest. All Rights Reserved.

About Qwest

Customers coast-to-coast turn to Qwest’s industry-leading national fiber-optic network and world-class customer service to meet their communications and entertainment needs. For residential customers, Qwest offers a new generation of fiber-optic fast Internet service, high-speed Internet solutions, as well as digital home phone, wireless service available through Verizon Wireless and DIRECTV® services.  Qwest is also the choice of 95 percent of Fortune 500 companies, offering a full suite of network, data and voice services for small businesses, large businesses, government agencies andwholesale customers. Additionally, Qwest participates in Networx, the largest communications services contract in the world, and is recognized as aleader in the network services market by a leading technology industry analyst firm.

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The marks that comprise the Qwest logo are registered trademarks of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries.

Media Contact

Monica Martinez 
303-965-6924
Monica.Martinez@qwest.com 
Twitter: @monicamartinez