Qwest Communications International Inc. is building a nationwide fiber-optics network to offer faster Internet speeds to its customers.
Unlike Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc., Qwest doesn't offer video. Instead, it partners with DirecTV Inc. to bundle TV service with its Internet, landline and cell phones.
But as it expands its fiber network, there's question as to whether Qwest eventually will begin to offer TV to its customers. Qwest CEO Ed Mueller discussed the topic in a conference call with analysts Tuesday following the phone company's fourth-quarter report.
QUESTION: Are you planning to use your fiber network to offer more video products for yourselves or to enable others to offer it?
RESPONSE: On the IP TV (Internet Protocol Television) front, as you know that's the reason we built this architecture, was to take advantage of the continued movement of what I would call a la carte video. We're still very bullish on that.
It would be primarily an enablement; we would enable others. We've closed down our video product — our retail video product in our two regions — which has been good for us. We would have had to have a large capital spend to even upgrade it.
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