Qwest Communications and BT Sign Agreement to Exchange International Telephone Services

Business Wire, Jan 17, 2005

DENVER -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) and BT today announced an interconnection agreement to exchange international voice telephone traffic between the two companies. The interconnection agreement enhances the quality and reliability of telephone services used by residential and business customers making international long-distance calls between the United States, the UK and other international destinations.

"BT is pleased to expand our range of global wholesale voice partners to include this important new voice interconnect with Qwest Communications," said Peter Morley, general manager product centre, BT Global Services.

Around the world, service providers form a variety of interconnection agreements with other providers to ensure that customers' voice calls can be seamlessly transmitted across the world, over different networks. Qwest has many interconnection agreements in place to help provide worldwide long-distance service. This particular agreement with BT will continue to allow Qwest customers to make calls to the UK International voice traffic between the UK and the U.S. is estimated to be more than 4 billion minutes of use per year.

"Qwest is continually focused on providing high-quality, reliable and competitive international voice services to our customers," said Brian Stading, director, long-distance for Qwest. "Today's announcement demonstrates our emphasis on establishing and extending Qwest's direct interconnection agreements with the world's premier international carriers."

About Qwest

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) is a leading provider of voice, video and data services. With more than 40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the "Spirit of Service" and providing world-class services that exceed customers' expectations for quality, value and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities include IT and networking services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.

BT consists principally of three lines of business:

--BT Retail, providing fixed and mobile communications services and solutions and IT and networking services to more than 20 million business and residential customers in the UK. It is also a leading UK internet services provider.

--BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers including the provision of broadband, private circuits.

--BT Global Services, providing IT and networking services internationally to meet the needs of multi-site organisations with European operations. BT Global Services operates in more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services.

In the year ended 31 March 2004, BT Group's turnover was GBP18,519 million with profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of GBP2,013 million.

BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/about.> Forward-Looking Statement Note

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