Qwest Network Up for Grabs?
By
Bob Brewin
The Wall Street Journal <a href=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123861451489479349.html>reported</a> on Thursday that Qwest wants to sell its long-distance network, which the company uses to carry traffic for its traffic for the General Services Administration's Networx contract and for the Defense Department.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Qwest wants to sell its long-distance network, which the company uses to carry traffic for its traffic for the General Services Administration's Networx contract and for the Defense Department.
The Journal reported that Qwest, which has a debt load of $14 billion, wants to sell the network to raise cash to cut debt, and if it goes through, it would leave the company as a regional carrier in the Mountain West, serving, among other customers, the What's Brewin HQ in "The Original" Las Vegas, N.M.
Qwest also provides gear to slice or bundle circuits on the core continental U.S. piece of the Global Information Grid network operated by the Defense Information Systems Agency, and I have a hint that at least one major carrier has its eyes on that piece of the Qwest business up for sale.
The usual suspects are punted as likely buyers of the Qwest long-distance unit.
Tom McMahon, a Qwest spokesman, dismissed the Journal story as "rumor and innuendo" and declined further comment.
Whatever happens, I know Diana Gowen, Qwest senior veep and general manager
of the company's government services, will NOT end up standing on the corner of 14th and K with a tin cup.