Qwest Keeps to Old Playbook

After a four-month strategic review, Qwest (Q Quote) CEO Ed Mueller unveiled his grand plan for the Denver telco: He's sticking with the old plan.

Qwest will continue to work with partners like Sprint (S Quote) in wireless and DirecTV (DTV Quote) in video. The company will also hold with its AT&T (T Quote) inspired fiber-to-the-node network expansion plan that relies on DSL for home connections, Mueller told analysts on a conference call Monday.

Mueller did not share any financial outlook, saving that big announcement for the Feb. 25 analysts' day event in New York. But he did project capital spending would be $1.8 billion next year. That is slightly more than the $1.7 billion Qwest expected to spend in 2007. ...