Qwest Signs Multi-Year, Multimillion-Dollar Data Networking Agreement with BJ's Wholesale Club

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced that it has signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar data networking agreement with Natick, Mass.-based BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., a leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States. The company currently operates 175 clubs and 99 gas stations in 16 Eastern states. Qwest will connect all of BJ’s club locations with Qwest iQ Networking services, Qwest’s wide-area network (WAN) solution, and be the company’s primary data network provider for data services. Qwest’s nationwide IP network will permit BJ’s to eventually combine its voice and data applications on a single private network. This will enable the wholesale club operator to transfer large amounts of complex data over a secure and reliable network, offering club locations and customers a higher level of customer service. "Qwest IP Networking services will allow BJ’s to improve operational effectiveness, provide enhanced member services and establish a foundation to meet future business opportunities,” said John Polizzi, senior vice president and chief information officer for BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. "Transitioning to Qwest’s nationwide network will help BJ's meet its increasing demands for more bandwidth and will provide seamless communications at club locations," said Tom Richards, executive vice president, Qwest business markets group. "With speeds up to 40 gigabits per second, Qwest's network is capable of virtually any bandwidth demand so companies that are growing rapidly can rest assured Qwest will be able to scale with them coast to coast." Qwest’s business market group serves hundreds of thousands of business, and federal and state government customers coast-to-coast over Qwest’s nationwide fiber-optic network. Qwest iQ Networking is a complete converged networking service for enterprise business and government customers to give them power of MPLS technology coupled with industry-leading service level agreements. About Qwest Qwest offers a unique and powerful combination of managed voice and data solutions for businesses, government agencies and consumers – locally and throughout the country. Customers coast to coast are turning to Qwest's industry-leading national fiber optic network and its Spirit of Service for quality products and superior customer experience. Qwest is a participant in Networx, the largest communications services contract in the world, to provide leading-edge voice, data and video services. For more information on Qwest, and its various operating subsidiaries, please go to www.qwest.com. For information about the products and services Qwest is offering in the Networx contract, visit www.gsanetworx.com. About BJ’s Wholesale Club BJ’s Wholesale Club is dedicated to providing its members with high-quality, brand name merchandise at prices that are significantly lower than the prices found at supermarkets, supercenters, department stores, drug stores and specialty retail stores. BJ’s offers low BJ’s Member Pricing on a huge selection of top-brand apparel and accessories, small appliances, consumer electronics, fine jewelry, groceries and other quality merchandise. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. is a leading operator of warehouse clubs in the eastern United States. The Company currently operates 175 clubs and 99 gas stations in 16 Eastern states. Learn more about BJ's Wholesale Club at www.bjs.com. The Qwest logo is a registered trademark of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries.