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Exhibit 99.1

NEWS

QWEST CORPORATION PLACES $575 MILLION IN NOTES

DENVER, August 12, 2004—Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) announced today that its Qwest Corporation (QC) subsidiary has concluded an offering of $575 million aggregate principal amount of debt securities.

        The company will issue a $575 million 7-year note maturing on September 1, 2011, with a coupon of 7.875%.

        "We are pleased that the market continues to support Qwest's credit," said Oren G. Shaffer, Qwest vice chairman and CFO. "We continue to make significant progress on our objective of improving financial flexibility and reducing interest expense. The concurrent $750 million tender offer announced yesterday, combined with debt redemption completed earlier this year, demonstrates our commitment to improving the company's balance sheet."

        The seven-year notes were priced at $986.75 per $1,000 principal amount. The net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, including funding or refinancing the company's investments in telecommunication assets.

        The sale of the notes is expected to close on August 19, 2004.

        Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank Securities were joint book-runners for the offering, which was made in a private placement transaction pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

About Qwest

        Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) is a leading provider of voice, video and data services. With more than 40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the "Spirit of Service" and providing world-class services that exceed customers' expectations for quality, value and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com.

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Forward Looking Statement Note

        This release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: access line losses due to increased competition, including from technology substitution of our access lines with wireless and cable alternatives; our substantial indebtedness, and our inability to complete any efforts to de-lever our balance sheet through asset sales or other transactions; any adverse outcome of the SEC's current

investigation into our accounting policies, practices and procedures and certain transactions; any adverse outcome of the current investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office in Denver into certain matters relating to us; adverse results of increased review and scrutiny by Congress, regulatory authorities, media and others (including any internal analyses) of financial reporting issues and practices or otherwise; rapid and significant changes in technology and markets; any adverse developments in commercial disputes or legal proceedings, including any adverse outcome of current or future legal proceedings related to matters that are the subject of governmental investigations, and, to the extent not covered by insurance, if any, our inability to satisfy any resulting obligations from funds available to us, if any; potential fluctuations in quarterly results; volatility of our stock price; intense competition in the markets in which we compete including the likelihood of certain of our competitors emerging from bankruptcy court protection or otherwise reorganizing their capital structure and competing effectively against us; changes in demand for our products and services; acceleration of the deployment of advanced new services, such as broadband data, wireless and video services, which could require substantial expenditure of financial and other resources in excess of contemplated levels; higher than anticipated employee levels, capital expenditures and operating expenses; adverse changes in the regulatory or legislative environment affecting our business; and changes in the outcome of future events from the assumed outcome included in our significant accounting policies.

        The information contained in this release is a statement of Qwest's present intention, belief or expectation and is based upon, among other things, the existing regulatory environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and Qwest's assumptions. Qwest may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in Qwest's assumptions or otherwise. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this release should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Qwest or persons acting on its behalf may issue. This release may include analysts' estimates and other information prepared by third parties for which Qwest assumes no responsibility.

        Qwest undertakes no obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

        By including any information in this release, Qwest does not necessarily acknowledge that disclosure of such information is required by applicable law or that the information is material.

        The Qwest logo is a registered trademark of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries.

Contacts: Media Contact:
Steve Hammack
303-896-3030
steve.hammack@qwest.com Investor Contact:
Stephanie Comfort
800-567-7296
IR@qwest.com

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QWEST CORPORATION PLACES $575 MILLION IN NOTES