Attention all you blogistas switching your phone service to Qwest -- read this first

Now isn't THIS special:

Israeli start-up Actelis Networks, which develops solutions for broadband communications over copper platforms, has landed a major contract with US telecommunications company Qwest Communications International (NYSE: Q). The contract is estimated to be worth $60 million and will be spread over a period of four years.

Actelis’s main product, “MetaLight Platform” enables service providers and enterprises to deliver high-bandwidth over multiple copper wires to customers to customers and organizations that do not have access to optical communications services, or do not wish to change their existing copper wire infrastructure.

Co-founded in 1998 by president and CEO Tuvia Barlev and chairman Kamran Elahian, Actelis has raised $97 million to date in four financing rounds. The company’s key investors include in venture capital firms Walden International, Vertex Venture Holdings, The Carlyle Group, France Telecom venture subsidiary Innovacom and ATA Ventures.

So the Carlyle Group is a major investor in Actelis, which just landed a big contract (the above article is dated May 8th, 2006) with Qwest Communications -- just as Qwest APPEARS to be the only land-line company not providing the government with caller records.

And all you left-of-center bloggers are switching to Qwest? Are you SURE you want to do that? Or are you being led off a cliff?

Thoughts?