DirecTV Signs QwestDirecTV Signs Qwest

DENVER -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) today announced that for the next three years it will be a major provider of networking services to El Segundo, Calif.-based DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital satellite television service provider. The Qwest advanced networking services will help DIRECTV deliver local HD television content to customers. This agreement is a direct result of the recent acquisition of OnFiber.

Qwest will provide its state-of-the-art metro optical wavelength services, or QWave, to upgrade DIRECTV's network infrastructure. With this upgrade, DIRECTV will be able to distribute and transport HDTV content to millions of its customers. Qwest will be a major network services provider for DIRECTV, offering the company access to Qwest's reliable and secure network to transfer television and movie content.

"As we continue to expand our programming services, we are deploying the most advanced transmission technology in the world,"said Don Jones, vice president and general manager, DIRECTV, Inc."While we worked with OnFiber to deploy network services in Denver, Los Angeles and Washington state, Qwest is now providing a critical piece of the infrastructure in California. We're pleased with the smooth transition that took place. Qwest professionals understand our business, and have proved to us that they can support our current needs and provide the cutting-edge technology that will help establish DIRECTV as the industry leader in the delivery of local HD programming."

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q)