CenturyLink, Qwest combine

CenturyLink Inc. (symbol: CTL) and Qwest Communications merged on Friday, creating the third-largest telecommunications company in the country. The companies combined had $18.6 billion in revenues in 2010.

The newly formed company expects to generate $625 million in savings during the next three to five years resulting from combined efficiencies, a release says.

Despite the fact that its corporate headquarters is in Louisiana, CenturyLink provides a significant number of jobs in Florida. The firm has 4,060 employees in this state, with a 2010 payroll of nearly $260 million. Of the 37 states CenturyLink serves, Florida has the fifth-largest number of access lines.

Erik Zimmer is the company's general manager for the South Florida market. He is based in Fort Myers, at 1520 Lee St.