Qwest Expands Contract with Leading Health Insurer for Network Upgrade

Business Wire, Oct 18, 2007

DENVER -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced that Independence Blue Cross (IBC), the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania, has expanded its contract with the company for advanced data and IP network services. The 3-year agreement provides a seamless solution for IBC to transition its traditional data network to the latest network technology.

IBC requires a secure, reliable network to transmit member information and other critical business data among its multiple locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. IBC will connect these locations with Qwest's iQ Networking[TM], an MPLS-based wide-area network (WAN) solution that increases IBC's network reliability, flexibility and efficiency.

"Our communications system is an integral tool in delivering the highest quality health plan services to our members. It must be up and running 100 percent of the time to expedite claims processing and perform other essential member services," said Jack Swearhart, director of Internet Infrastructure and Data Communications for IBC. "We teamed with Qwest for their technical capabilities and expertise. In addition to around-the-clock customer care, Qwest provides our company with the tools that allow us to configure the network to meet our specifications."

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with IBC by delivering a solution to their complex communications needs," said Tom Richards, executive vice president of Business Markets for Qwest. "Our iQ Networking capabilities allow businesses, such as IBC, to improve their network efficiencies and performance in a cost-effective manner."

Qwest's Business Markets Group serves hundreds of thousands of business, and federal and state government customers coast-to-coast over Qwest's nationwide fiber-optic network. Qwest iQ Networking is a complete converged networking service for enterprise business and government customers to give them power to MPLS technology coupled with industry-leading service level agreements. For more information about Qwest's enterprise services, please visit http://www.qwest.com/largebusiness.> About Qwest

Qwest offers a unique and powerful combination of managed voice and data solutions for businesses, government agencies and consumers - locally and throughout the country. Customers coast to coast are turning to Qwest's industry-leading national fiber optic network and its Spirit of Service for quality products and superior customer experience. Qwest is a participant in Networx, the largest communications services contract in the world, to provide leading-edge voice, data and video services. For more information on Qwest, and its various operating subsidiaries, please go to www.qwest.com. For information about the products and services Qwest is offering in the Networx contract, visit www.gsanetworx.com.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For nearly 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals.

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