BROOMFIELD, Colo., October 27, 2003 ― Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced customer agreements to provide America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, with a range of additional services in the U.S. and Europe.
In a new agreement, America Online expanded its use of Level 3's colocation services in the U.S. and Europe. Also, under recent agreements, Level 3 is now providing America Online with 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) wavelength circuits in the U.S. and Europe, which will be integrated into AOL's world-class IP network named ATDN (www.atdn.net). In addition, America Online purchased metropolitan dark fiber in the U.S. earlier this year.
“We're pleased to support America Online's continuing efforts to deliver a world-class experience to their members,” said Kevin O'Hara, president and COO for Level 3. “We believe that our technically advanced backbone, cost structure and operational excellence will add significant value to AOL and its tens of millions of broadband and dial-up members in the U.S. and Europe.”
“America Online is focused on delivering a compelling broadband experience for our members that provides access to the online entertainment, information and communication services and content they want,” said Mark Muehl, vice president of Internet Operations for America Online. “These agreements with Level 3 help us accommodate additional broadband usage across the AOL service.”
Wavelength services from Level 3 offer AOL and other customers the ability to obtain international circuits at a fraction of the up-front investment of building the transmission infrastructure themselves. Level 3's ONTAPSM system enables the company to provide 10-day delivery of on-net wavelength services, allowing AOL and other customers to scale their bandwidth requirements as their operational needs dictate.
Level 3's dark fiber services help customers reduce their local loop expense and increase the physical diversity of their metropolitan transmission infrastructure. The company's 2,200-mile metropolitan backbone is complemented by Level 3's network expansion capabilities, which extend Level 3's fiber reach by constructing route extensions and integrating third-party fiber where customer demand requires.
Additionally, Level 3 is one of the largest providers of colocation space in the world, operating more than 70 carrier-neutral data center facilities in the U.S. and Europe. Colocation customers in most major cities can access 8 to 10 other network providers in each Level 3 facility.
The new contracts announced today are incremental to the managed modem and other America Online customer agreements previously disclosed by Level 3, and the America Online contracts that Level 3 assumed as a result of the Genuity transaction.
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.
