Qwest's currently in the process of spending roughly $300 million to upgrade 1.8 million of their customers to ADSL2+ technology, offering users 12Mbps/896kbps tiers for slightly less than $50, and 20Mbps/896kbps tiers for around $100. Those are introductory rates, change depending on whether you bundle local phone, and those prices increase after a year -- though can be locked down with a long term contract. Qwest hopes to see a FTTN penetration rate of 40% by 2010, with upgrades costing the company around $175 per home. It's a far less aggressive plan that AT&T or Verizon, but so it goes when you lack a cash cow wireless division.

Back in August, Qwest issued a press release stating that their deployment was on schedule, with the FTTN/ADSL2+ service available to more than a million customers. Qwest's goal for the year was to bring potential service to more than 1.8 million customers across twenty markets. Earlier in the week we referenced a report citing a Qwest hardware vendor, who suggested that Qwest had put their upgrade plans into hibernation mode until the Spring thaw. The telco reached out to note that the carrier is actually ahead of schedule with their plans.

"As you mention, we have indicated that our FTTN deployment has run ahead of schedule, and we do plan to achieve our year-end goal of 1.8 million homes passed in 20 markets," says Qwest spokesperson Monica Martinez. According to Martinez, Qwest hit the 1 million mark in August more quickly than they anticipated. The telco says they should have a little more detail on their FTTN project numbers when they announce third quarter earnings on October 29. I asked Martinez about plans beyond 20Mbps, and was told "we are still testing the bonded DSL line platform."

Bonded DSL could allow the telco to theoretically offer speeds closer to 35Mbps -- all used for data, given that Qwest currently has no plans for IPTV.