Examiner.com

Recent rumblings in Denver telecommunications companies are an indication that the technology backbone may be expanding. that potential expansion is a sign that the industry in general is on the upswing.

Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q) announced last month an offer to buy back as much as $1.2 billion in debt. This is a big indicator that the Denver-based company is moving in to more stable territory, and a sign that the tech bust is coming out of the bottom. Growth in broadband providers like Qwest are a sign of increasing demand, which in turn indicates potential growth by companies leveraging the broadband products Qwest has to offer.

Broomfield-based Level 3 Communications (NASDAQ: LVLT) announced their win of federal stimulus dollars to expand broadband service in to rural areas. This infusion of almost $14M into this project will result in an expansion of Level 3’s network deeper in to six state, including California and Texas. Like the Qwest expansion, growth in backbone is a leading indicator to potential growth in traffic, use, product offerings, etc.

Telecom companies are not the only backbone providers seeing signs of life. The Douglas County cable company Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA) saw a positive uptick in Q4 of 2009, a reversal of a losing streak that had plagued the company since 2008. Subscriber growth is considered a big portion of their big finish in 2009.

It’s not just the telecom companies that seem to be shuffling back to life. Englewood-based Dish Networks (NASDAQ: DISH) is working with Google to create a TV program search platform. The system leverages Dish programing technology and Google Android technology to allow the user to schedule programming on their home units. These types of services are evidence of new growth opportunities as technological innovations once again begin to drive the consumer markets.

These are just a few of the shifts that have occurred in Denver technology companies over the past few months. We can expect more changes, and many more improvements, as the economic malaise begins to slip away.