DISA taps Qwest for Internet services

Qwest Communications International Inc. won a 10-year, $100 million contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency to provide bandwidth transmission services for the Defense Department's global information grid.

Under the Access Transport Services contract, Qwest will provide
dedicated private service lines at various speeds to connect military installations in the Midwest and West to the global information grid.

The company also will provide DISA with a Web portal for easier pricing, ordering and service delivery. Qwest also can provide related specialized equipment, including routers and multiplexers.

Denver-based Qwest provides high-speed Internet and data, voice and video services to more than 50 federal government agencies. Besides the Defense Department, it also serves the Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Justice and Treasury departments and the U.S. Postal Service.

The company has about 39,000 employees and reported 2005 revenue of about $13.9 billion. The company ranks No. 41 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors.