Sony Online Entertainment Inc. Using Private Network Service To Support Online Gaming Phenomenon "EverQuest®"
BROOMFIELD, Colo., March 26, 2003 - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced that it is providing network services to Sony Online Entertainment to support its widely popular online game "EverQuest," as well as future releases.
Sony Online Entertainment has purchased a range of services from Level 3 to deliver the game to players over the Internet, including (3)Packet® Ethernet, a wide-area networking (WAN) service that provides customers with a high-performance, flexible, and highly scalable alternative to traditional data transport services.
"Online gaming is a truly exciting application that we expect to drive increased demand for bandwidth," said Kevin O'Hara, president and COO for Level 3. "Sony Online Entertainment has already demonstrated the enormous potential of online games with EverQuest, which at peak times has had over 100,000 players participating over the Internet at one time. We look forward to continuing to work with Sony Online Entertainment to help them deliver an even more robust and satisfying online experience for their gaming customers."
(3)Packet is a data transport service that offers Ethernet, ATM and Frame Relay access into Level 3's managed wide area network with industry leading class and quality of service levels. Customers can purchase (3)Packet in any of Level 3's markets in the U.S. and Europe.
"(3)Packet enables companies to deploy and manage traffic over an MPLS-based layer 2 network, ensuring capacity as usage demands," O'Hara said. "This flexibility - plus the service's unique, distance-insensitive, usage-based pricing - can decrease network costs without sacrificing the security and reliability associated with other transport services like wavelengths and private lines."
EverQuest is a "MMORPG," which stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Such games typically take place in a virtual "world" on the Internet and can involve thousands of individual players who participate by taking on the roles of characters known as "avatars."
Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), the online gaming division of Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, is a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming that creates, develops and provides online entertainment for the personal computer, console, wireless, and online markets. With more than 13 million registered users, SOE's award-winning website, The Station® (www.station.com) hosts a variety of entertaining games and player communities spanning numerous genres. In addition to the blockbuster hit EverQuest® and the worlds premier online-only console game for the PlayStation® 2, EverQuest Online Adventures™, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development such as PlanetSide™, Star Wars Galaxies™ and EverQuest® II.
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.
