LEVEL 3 ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF METROPOLITAN NETWORK IN CITY OF LONDON AND ACQUISITION OF A SECOND CITY GATEWAY FACILITY
London, UK - 15 July 1999 – Level 3 Communications Ltd. (UK), a division of Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT) announced today that it has completed its high capacity fiber optic network for the City of London and acquired a second gateway facility in the city.
The multi-duct network has been constructed in less than six months and is set to satisfy an increasing demand amongst City-based businesses for broadband capacity. Metropolitan network The metropolitan network incorporates the latest fiber optic technology and covers 33 kilometers of prime London business districts from the West End, to Kings Cross, Docklands and the City of London.
The new infrastructure will deliver customers huge bandwidth capacity at significantly lower cost, and uniquely, will offer broadband, high capacity connectivity on the local loop direct to the customer. Rob McLeod, managing director of Level 3 Communications, Ltd.UK, said, "Today's announcement represents a significant communications milestone for the London business community. The efficiencies made possible by this network's underlying IP technology have the potential for significant cost benefits for all Level 3 customers. Businesses will not only benefit from high bandwidth local access connectivity at very competitive prices today, but will be able to maintain a competitive edge for the future as our network continues to offer them the very latest technologies and services as soon as they are deployed."
Unlike many traditional infrastructures, customers will also benefit from the new network's upgradeable design. The metropolitan network has been designed and built using sixteen conduits - which allows the network to be upgraded by pulling new fiber through an empty conduit without the need for new construction. These spare conduits give Level 3 the ability to continuously adapt to new technology and to increase capacity while continuing to drive down costs. New gateway facility The second Level 3 gateway facility in London is located in The Angel, Islington district of North London. The 18,500 sq.m. facility will house gateway switch equipment, along with additional space for expansion and colocation services, and is expected to be ready for service by the third quarter of 2000. "London is a key telecommunications technology center, and as the marketplace continues to evolve, the need for advancement in the telecommunications infrastructure is critical," continues McLeod. "Level 3's investment in state-of-the-art advanced infrastructure will help ensure that the city and its businesses stay at the forefront of development of communications both in Europe and internationally." Link to Level 3 International network Level 3's London network represents another significant stage in the rapid development of the company's high speed international network. The London gateway and metro network will be connected to an approximate 5,300 kilometer European intercity network that will ultimately connect a minimum of 13 local city networks in Europe. This European network will be linked seamlessly to the Level 3 U.S. network by the Level 3 transatlantic terabit cable system currently under development, which will be ready for service by September 2000.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT), an international communications company, operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, connecting 180 markets in 18 countries. The company serves a broad range of wholesale, enterprise and content customers with a comprehensive suite of services including: Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, voice and voice over IP services, content delivery and media distribution services. These services provide the building blocks to enable Level 3’s customers to meet their growing demands for advanced communications solutions. The company’s Web address is www.Level3.com.
"Level 3 Communications,” "Level 3," the red 3D brackets and the Level 3 Communications logo are registered service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Level 3 services are provided by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Any other service, product or company names recited herein may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements that we make in this press release are forward looking in nature. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. These forward looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent us from achieving our stated goals include, but are not limited to our ability to: successfully integrate acquisitions; increase the volume of traffic on our network; defend our intellectual property and proprietary rights; develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; and meet all of the terms and conditions of our debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
