Qwest to connect NASA centers

Qwest Communications has signed an agreement with NASA to provide local and national connectivity to six NASA centers and several other locations. Qwest will provide end-to-end wavelength services using its QWave optical communications technology.

The new core network Qwest will create for NASA will start with circuits running at 2.5 gigabits/sec, immediately scalable to 10 gigabits/sec. In the longer term, that network will provide the foundation for moving the large volumes of data that NASA's activities generate.

Qwest has worked with NASA for several years, providing services for the current NASA Information Systems Network and the NASA Research and Education Network, and providing international services for the NASA Deep Space Network.

The value of the new agreement was not disclosed.