Qwest Exits Payphone Business

Qwest Communications will sell exit its pay phone business by selling the operations across its 14-state local access area to FSH Communications. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the deal, Qwest will remain the primary supplier of public access lines, operator services and long-distance capacity to FSH. The commercial terms available to pay phone customers will remain substantially unchanged following the closing of the transaction.



"Over the past two years, we have engaged in a detailed examination of all Qwest's lines of business to maximize the profitability of our core operations," said Ken Dunn, Qwest vice president of corporate development and strategy. "Given the growth of the wireless industry, the pay phone business no longer fits with our long-term plans."http://www.qwest.com