Qwest Win: Signs $25 Million Contract with Equant — Creates seamless global services capability for multi-national customers - Company Business and Marketing

EDGE, On & About AT&T, Nov 2, 1998

Qwest Monday announced it has been awarded a contract from Equant, a leading provider of seamless international data network services to multinational businesses. Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Qwest will provide US domestic voice and voice VPN services to Equant's customers. The contract has an estimated value of $25 million over its term.

"This agreement combines the complementary capabilities of Qwest and Equant. By leveraging Qwest's US-based Virtual Network Services (VNS) with Equant's Global Voice Services (GVS), Equant's multinational customers will have customized solutions for all of their US and international needs," said Lewis O. Wilks, president of business markets for Qwest. "We are pleased to have Qwest as a partner," said Doug Gilstrap, Chief Operating Officer of Equant Network Services. "This agreement will enable Equant to better meet the needs of its multinational customers." The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network Qwest's planned domestic 18,449-mile network will serve over 130 cities, which represent approximately 80 percent of the data and voice traffic originating in the United States, upon its scheduled completion in the second quarter of 1999. To date, approximately 9,100 miles of the Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network are activated, and construction has commenced on 17,773 miles. Qwest's transcontinental segment extends from Los Angeles to Sacramento and across to New York. Additionally, Qwest owns transatlantic submarine capacity linking the United States to Europe and will jointly own a transpacific submarine cable system connecting the U.S. to the Pacific Rim. Qwest is also extending its network 1,400 miles into Mexico with completion slated for late 1998. The Qwest Macro Capacity Fiber Network is designed with highly reliable and secure bi-directional, line switching OC-192 SONET ring architecture. Upon completion, the network will offer a self- healing system that provides the ultimate security and reliability by allowing instantaneous rerouting in the event of a fiber cut. Equant, with primary offices in Atlanta and Amsterdam, is a leading provider of seamless international data network services to multinational businesses. The company is a single source for global desktop communications, providing managed data network services, network design and integration, equipment installation, maintenance and support services as well as software development services. Equant operates the world's largest commercial data network in terms of geographic coverage, which extends to over 220 countries and territories. Equant's customers include American Express, Bayerische Vereinsbank, Hilton, Interpol, ING Bank, P&O Nedlloyd, Rhone-Poulenc, Samsung, Shell, SWIFT, Swiss RE, Xerox, and other multinational organizations with substantial cross-border data communications needs. FMI: www.equant.com. Qwest Communications International Inc. is a multimedia communications company and one of the fastest growing companies in America today. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Qwest has approximately 6,000 employees and over 80 sales offices worldwide. With its world-class data and multimedia network, marketing expertise, and customer care and billing systems, Qwest is delivering high-quality data, video and voice connectivity securely and reliably to customers around the world. Further information is available at www.qwest.net.