Qwest Communications (Q) has released its capital expenditure (CapEx) guidance for 2010. The local and long-distance telephone service provider expects its CapEX to remain at par with the estimated 2009 level of $1.7 billion.      Qwest continues to invest in building necessary infrastructure to boost network capacity and availability. Historically, the company has allocated a major portion of the overall CapEx in deploying additional fiber-to-the-node (“FTTN") capacity to increase the performance of its broadband network. Moving forward, Qwest plans to increase spending on deployment of fiber optic cable to support wireless services.   The company recently introduced a new fiber-based Ethernet backhaul wholesale service for wireless operators. The service (called Qwest Mobile Ethernet Backhaul) leverages Qwest’s FTTN network to extend fiber connections to cellular sites. This will enable wireless operators to upgrade their existing copper-based wireless backhaul networks to faster fiber optic connections, which will expand capacity ...

Qwest Communications (Q) is reportedly accelerating its network throughput to offer top Internet speed of 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) for its premium enterprise and government customers. The third-largest US regional carrier has already started to upgrade its fiber-based long-haul network infrastructure, which is expected to continue through 2010. Existing long-haul networks deliver top speeds of approximately 40 Gbps. To implement this network enhancement, Qwest is leveraging the technology of Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), which will provide the 100 Gbps Ethernet service routing capabilities. The company aims to be the first carrier to commercially launch 100 Gbps services in the US. However, Verizon (VZ) is also in the race with its 100 Gbps network deployment planned in 2010. Leading carriers across the globe are increasingly focused on accelerating Internet network speeds given rapidly growing demand for greater bandwidth capacity. Qwest has reported that total bandwidth consumption ...