GNG News Guy
02-27-2008, 09:20 AM
http://i.dslr.net/urls/49/3949.gif (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-Doesnt-See-The-Point-In-FiOS-92195)
We're not sure how you turn "we lack the resources or vision to do anything particularly interesting or bold in the telecom market" into a presentation that gets Wall Street excited, but as we mentioned Monday (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/Qwest-Tries-To-Seem-Interesting-92147), Qwest has been trying to do that all week. New CEO Edward Mueller has been meeting with analysts and the media since Monday, but judging from this CNET interview (http://www.news.com/A-Qwest-for-survival/2008-1034_3-6232125.html?tag=st.num), the baby bell boss isn't actually telling them anything new. An excerpt:CNET:Why doesn't Qwest follow Verizon's lead and just take fiber to the home?
Mueller: It's too expensive. We don't see the return.
CNET:But Wall Street seems to have looked favorably on Verizon's strategy, and it's starting to pay off. They seem to have a long-term vision.
Mueller: We don't have the resources.
CNET: Aren't you worried about commoditizing your network by not offering services like TV?
Mueller: No, that is what we have DirecTV for.
CNET:Yes, but you are relying on another company to offer a service to your customers. And you are just providing the transport.
Mueller: We like them.
How could anyone not be excited from that exchange? A rehash of the company's already announced plans to deploy 20Mbps VDSL to only a small chunk of their customers, a vague mention of wireless aspirations and their displeasure with Sprint, and the announcement that Qwest would be offering a "Geek Squad" style tech support service were about as exciting as it got this week for analysts.
We're hearing that Qwest should have some additional FTTH/VDSL deployment news in the next month or two.
We're not sure how you turn "we lack the resources or vision to do anything particularly interesting or bold in the telecom market" into a presentation that gets Wall Street excited, but as we mentioned Monday (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/Qwest-Tries-To-Seem-Interesting-92147), Qwest has been trying to do that all week. New CEO Edward Mueller has been meeting with analysts and the media since Monday, but judging from this CNET interview (http://www.news.com/A-Qwest-for-survival/2008-1034_3-6232125.html?tag=st.num), the baby bell boss isn't actually telling them anything new. An excerpt:CNET:Why doesn't Qwest follow Verizon's lead and just take fiber to the home?
Mueller: It's too expensive. We don't see the return.
CNET:But Wall Street seems to have looked favorably on Verizon's strategy, and it's starting to pay off. They seem to have a long-term vision.
Mueller: We don't have the resources.
CNET: Aren't you worried about commoditizing your network by not offering services like TV?
Mueller: No, that is what we have DirecTV for.
CNET:Yes, but you are relying on another company to offer a service to your customers. And you are just providing the transport.
Mueller: We like them.
How could anyone not be excited from that exchange? A rehash of the company's already announced plans to deploy 20Mbps VDSL to only a small chunk of their customers, a vague mention of wireless aspirations and their displeasure with Sprint, and the announcement that Qwest would be offering a "Geek Squad" style tech support service were about as exciting as it got this week for analysts.
We're hearing that Qwest should have some additional FTTH/VDSL deployment news in the next month or two.