DENVER, CO -- Qwest Communications International Inc., (NYSE:Q) the broadband Internet communications company, today announced that it has received a five-year award valued up to $25 million to provide a host of broadband Internet communications services for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Research and Education Network (NREN). Qwest will be providing access to its high-speed Internet backbone, direct broadband local access, and comprehensive network operations support.

Under the project, Qwest will expand the NREN network from five sites to eight of NASA’s major research sites including, for the first time, NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., making it NASA’s most capable network for research. The Qwest network will provide faster connectivity for these sites than ever before, increasing the speed from 155 megabits per second to an unparalleled 622 Mbps for nearly all NASA research locations. Four of these locations use Qwest local broadband services to connect directly from NASA facilities to Qwest’s 106,000 mile global network. The expanded, faster NREN will cost-effectively support bandwidth-hungry applications used in aerospace design, space science, space exploration, and Earth sciences and enable the centers to harness the expertise distributed throughout NASA by connecting all eight facilities on one network.

The sites to be connected include the NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.; Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California; the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California; the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia; the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, Cleveland, Ohio; and the Next Generation Internet Exchange (NGIX), in Chicago, Illinois.

Projects include a virtual simulation laboratory offering remote analysis and interactive participation for aeronautical research and development; remote-controlled demonstrations of robotic technologies relevant to long-duration, long-distance planetary excursion; and interactive distribution of image spreadsheets to facilitate advanced visualizations of very large databases such as those produced by the Earth Observing Satellite.

"Its an honor to again be selected to partner with the federal government on a research and education network, said James F.X. Payne, senior vice president of Qwest Government Systems Division. We are proud of the government's continued confidence in our ability to keep its crucial research and education efforts, including ESnet, Abilene and now NREN, on the leading edge of technology."

About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) is a leader in reliable, scalable and secure broadband Internet-based data, voice and image communications for businesses and consumers. The Qwest Macro Capacity® Fiber Network, designed with the newest optical networking equipment for speed and efficiency, spans more than 106,000 miles globally. For more information, please visit the Qwest web site at www.qwest.com.

Media Contact:
Michael Davis
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Qwest Internet2 Contact:
Debbie Montano
Director, Advanced Internet Initiatives
debbie.montano@qwest.com

Investor Contact:
Lee Wolfe
IR@qwest.net
ph: +1.800.567.7296