University of Texas taps Qwest for network services

Qwest Communications International Inc. has won a two-year, multimillion dollar contract to provide network services to the University of Texas System Office of Telecommunication Services, the company announced May 19.

Under the contract, Qwest of Denver will provide dedicated Internet to a wide spectrum of public organizations in Texas, including University of Texas campuses, K-12 schools and state agencies.

The Office of Telecommunications Services operates two networks, the University of Texas System Network and the Texas Higher Education Network, both of which will be connected to the Qwest "backbone."

The University of Texas System Network provides voice, video and data communication among the various campuses and supports classroom education, distance learning, training, research, public service and administrative functions.

The system, which serves nearly 170,000 students, is the nation's second-largest state university system.

The Texas Higher Education Network offers Internet connectivity to public and private K-12 schools, community college districts, colleges and universities, libraries, hospitals, government agencies, and not-for-profit health and education organizations.

Qwest Communications, a provider of voice, video and data services, has more than 50,000 employees and annual sales of $15.4 billion, according to Hoover's Online of Austin, Texas.