Gst Activates Local Phone System

GST Telecom Washington has turned on its downtown fiber-optic telephone system, becoming the third service provider to local businesses.

Spokesman Rob Blankstein said the 1.5-mile loop will enable customers to connect directly to long-distance carriers.

When a switch is installed - he would not discuss the timing - a complete line of services including dial-tone for local service will be available.

“Spokane is one of our targeted markets for a central-office switch,” Blankstein said.

A four-mile extension of the downtown system will bring medical facilities on the South Hill into the loop.

The Spokane system is the first in Washington for GST, said Earl Kamsky, the president of GST Telecommunications Inc.

He said Mitzi Sachs will head up the Spokane office as vice president and general manager of GST Telecom Washington.

GST is headquartered in Vancouver, Wash. The company operates networks in 15 cities and Hawaii.

US West Communications and Nextlink are the other local service providers in Spokane.

, DataTimes