Qwest has also signed a long-term contract with Apex Global Internet Services Inc. (agis),

Qwest has also signed a long-term contract with Apex Global Internet Services Inc. (agis), Dearborn, MI, to provide approximately 10,000 route-mi of OC-48 (2.5 Gbits/sec) for approximately $260 million. As part of the deal, Qwest would receive 19.99% of agis stock, a seat on agis?s board of directors, consideration for the capacity in the early years of the contract, and monthly operations and maintenance fees. According to the agreement terms, the companies will enter into a joint marketing effort to expand their product and service offerings to include Internet protocol telephony, videoconferencing, atm, and frame-relay services.