NASA, Qwest ink optical networking agreement

Feb. 8, 2006
February 8, 2006 Denver, CO -- Qwest Communications has signed an agreement with NASA to provide optical communication services for a nationwide network. The carrier is to provide both local and nationwide connectivity to six NASA centers as well as to other NASA locations, comprising the entire core of NASA's new network. The project continues Qwest's long-term involvement with NASA.

February 8, 2006 Denver, CO -- Qwest Communications announced that it has signed a new agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide a nationwide networking service.

Under the agreement, Qwest is to provide both local and nationwide connectivity to six NASA centers as well as to other NASA locations, comprising the entire core of NASA's new network. The provided platform will enable end-to-end wavelength services using the carrier's QWave optical communication services.

According to the release, this latest NASA agreement with Qwest comes via the FTS 2001 Crossover contract that the carrier and others were awarded to compete with FTS 2001 incumbent providers. The project continues Qwest's long-term involvement with NASA, which includes services for the current NASA Information Systems Network, NASA Research and Education Network, and international services for the NASA Deep Space Network.

"We're thrilled to continue our work with NASA under the FTS 2001 Crossover agreement," comments Thomas Richards, executive vice president of Qwest's business markets group. "We are especially gratified to see our position grow within the federal government and its agencies. Without FTS 2001 Crossover, federal agencies wouldn't have the freedom of choice they enjoy today. We hope this choice-driven sentiment continues."

According to Qwest, starting with circuits at 2.5 Gbit/sec, and immediately scalable to 10 Gbit/sec, the provided core network will establish a long-term foundation for moving the huge amounts of data that NASA will generate as it continues its exploration of the frontiers of space and aeronautics.

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