Qwest Services Oklahoma

DENVER -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q - News) moves into 2003 under a new multi-year contract to provide advanced communications services to OneNet, Oklahoma's official telecommunications and information network for education and government.Under the contract, Qwest enables the transfer of voice, video and data services to thousands of OneNet customers including public and vocational-technical schools; colleges and universities; public libraries; local, tribal, state and federal governments; court systems; rural health care delivery systems; and research organizations through a direct connection to the Qwest worldwide broadband network. "This network has been recognized as one of the embedded jewels in our state's information infrastructure -- ultimately saving Oklahoma taxpayers millions of dollars since the launch of the network in 1996," said Kurt Snodgrass, chief operating officer of OneNet. "OneNet has provided the high-speed infrastructure to support a variety of initiatives such as distance learning, teleconferencing and the Virtual Internet School in Oklahoma Network (VISION) project, which is an Internet-based education portal that removes the geographic and technological barriers that limit the spectrum of learning opportunities." "Qwest is committed to working with state and local government customers to help deliver products and services that enable a new world of business, research and educational opportunities," said Cliff Holtz, executive vice president for Qwest global business markets. "OneNet will prove valuable to economic development because it provides the leading edge high-speed network connections required by today's growing advanced high-tech industries." Qwest Communications International Inc.