Continuing to rack up government customers, Qwesthas won a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract from the state of Texas.
Qwest will provide voice, video and data service for the University of Texas system, the nation’s second-largest state university system with nearly 170,000 students. UT will use it for classroom teaching, distance learning, training, research, public service and administration.
In addition, Qwest will power the Texas Higher Education Network (THEnet), which offers Internet connectivity to public and private K-12 schools, community colleges and universities, libraries, hospitals, government agencies and noprofits health and education organizations. In all, THEnet links more than 200 entities.
“Qwest is helping us provide a variety of communications services to Texans across the spectrum of public organizations — from colleges and universities to K-12 schools to state government entities to leading research organizations,” said Wayne Wedemeyer of the state’s office of telecommunications.
The Texas deal comes a month after Denver-base Qwest secured a similar 5-year contract from the state of Utah. Under that pact, Qwest will upgrade the Utah Education Network (UEN), a system linking all public schools, colleges and universities in the state.
Qwest’s other government customers include the state of Oklanhoma and the U.S. State and Energy departments.