Taking a more aggressive stance on high-speed-data services as competitive
local-exchange carriers continue to implode, incumbent telco Qwest
Communications International Inc. said it will expand its
digital-subscriber-line footprint by an additional 2.5 million homes in 11 of 14
states in its service region.
Moreover, Qwest -- which offers DSL in 74 markets and 14 states -- said the
move will extend its existing business and consumer DSL-service area by about 60
percent.
The telco said it will ramp up its DSL footprint by about 1.3 million
additional DSL-capable homes and businesses in 11 states by the end of 2001, by
another 1.2 million next year, then finish up with about 6 million by the end of
2002.
Qwest said the move will help it to reach its goal of 500,000 DSL subscribers
by the end of 2001 and help it prepare to re-enter the long-distance telephony
business in its service region in about 12 months. The company had roughly
306,000 DSL customers at the end of the first quarter.
States slated for Qwest's DSL expansion are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Qwest
said its more aggressive DSL strategy will bring service to major metros,
smaller cities and communities that do not currently get the
service.
