DENVER -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced that it has been awarded a multi-year, multimillion-dollar contract by the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Board of Regents. The statewide contract calls for Qwest to be the exclusive provider of long-distance, toll-free and calling card services.

"The University of Tennessee has made it a priority to anticipate the growing communications needs of our students, faculty and staff," said Steve Keys, University of Tennessee's director of telephone services. "Through the communications solutions offered by Qwest, we are extending a quality of service that will expand with the diverse communications needs of the university community."

"Qwest is pleased to contribute to the communications solutions of Tennessee's higher educational systems," said Cliff Holtz, executive vice president of Qwest business markets group. "This contract demonstrates our leadership in providing communication and network services to institutes of higher education. Qwest also serves many other state universities including the University of Texas and the University of Michigan."

Qwest will provide voice services to the Tennessee Board of Regents, the nation's sixth largest higher education system, which governs 45 post-secondary educational institutions, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers, providing programs to over 180,000 students in 90 of Tennessee's 95 counties. The agreement also includes voice services to the University of Tennessee's five universities, which represent approximately 42,000 students.

Qwest Communications International Inc.