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As the nation's telecommunications giants begin to wrangle over Internet business in each other's markets, some of the largest names are opting to recruit smaller allies for the fight.
Not Qwest Communications International, though. It's staging a particularly solitary campaign as it begins a nationwide rollout for its broadband digital subscriber line (or DSL) service.
The Denver-based company, which recently merged with US West, is beginning a push from Minnesota and the rest of its 14-state local territory to sell services in markets controlled by the other post-Bell providers.
High on its agenda is pushing DSL services, which offer users speedier Internet connections than typical modems. Qwest already sells such services in California and is planning further rollouts.
Other Bell companies are also plotting national expansions, but they're often partnering with smaller players that specialize in Internet services and already have a national base.
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