Dutch ISP Purchases Internet Access and Wavelengths Initial Services Turned up in Hours
Amsterdam, May 31, 2002 - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced that it has been awarded a contract to supply broadband communications services to SURFnet, the Dutch ISP.
Level 3 is now providing SURFnet with dedicated Internet access in Amsterdam and wavelengths services between Europe and North America. Kees Neggers, managing director of SURFnet commented, “We are very glad that we have been able to get a service provider that could deliver the complete package of services at such extremely short notice, such that SURFnet's service to its clients is guaranteed and of top quality.”
SURFnet is the national computer network for higher education and research in the Netherlands. It connects the networks of universities, colleges, research centres, academic hospitals and scientific libraries to one another and to other networks in Europe and the rest of the world.
In response to numerous inquiries Level 3 has received from concerned companies, Level 3 has established a dedicated customer support organization to assist customers concerned with potential disruptions in service in Europe.
“Within hours of Level 3 and SURFnet signing the contract Internet access was turned up. The wavelength services are being provisioned in a matter of days,” said Brady Rafuse, president for Level 3 in Europe. “It is a real tribute to our network, the quality of service that we are able to offer and to our people that we have been able to respond to customer requests so rapidly over the last few days.”
Level 3 currently offers service in nine major European markets and is expanding to eight additional markets across Western Europe in 2002. The new markets are Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Stockholm and Zurich, and the German cities of Cologne, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. Once the expansion is complete, Level 3 will be able to deliver services to 17 of the top markets on the continent.
Level 3's existing, two-ring network in Europe spans 3,600 route miles. It connects London, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris and the German cities of Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. The company also operates multi-conduit metropolitan networks in all nine markets.
Level 3 offers a range of communications services targeted toward the world's top 300 bandwidth customers, including wavelengths, private line, dark fiber, managed modem and IP services. Level 3's current customers include companies such as America Online, BT, Cable & Wireless, COLT Telecom Group, France Telecom and Microsoft.
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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.
