New Service Enables Cable Operators and Others to Accelerate Rollout of Consumer VoIP Offerings
NEW ORLEANS, La., May 3, 2004 – Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced that its
(3)VoIP EnhancedSM Local residential phone service is commercially available in more than 50 U.S. markets, completing the first stage of a phased rollout in over 300 U.S. markets by the end of 2004. The company made the announcement at The 2004 National Show hosted by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA).
“(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides cable operators, enhanced service providers, and others the essential building blocks needed to cost-effectively accelerate their deployment of VoIP service to millions of consumers throughout the U.S,” said Sureel Choksi, president of Softswitch Services for Level 3. “We’re pleased to be introducing our new (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service in over 50 U.S. markets, and are on schedule to complete the deployment of this service to more than 300 markets by the end of the year.”
(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service allows companies to develop and offer residential voice service using Level 3 provided building blocks, including local phone numbers, interconnection with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for local and long distance services, local number portability and E911 emergency services.
(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides these essential components while enabling the voice service provider to retain the flexibility to manage and control end-user features without the headaches of implementing complex interconnection arrangements.
Key features of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service include:
• Local and long distance calling including access to the PSTN
• Local phone numbers
• Operator assistance
• Directory listings and assistance
• E911 emergency services
• Local number portability
“We believe today’s commercial launch of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service underscores Level 3’s growing leadership in VoIP,” said Jack Waters, CTO and president of Voice Technologies for Level 3. “Level 3 is proud of its leadership role in helping to pioneer VoIP technology, having built its network to be completely optimized for IP and having introduced the first PSTN-quality VoIP service in 1999.”
“With today’s announcement, Level 3 now enables residential VoIP service to be offered – with local phone numbers – to over 16 million households, with plans to increase its reach to approximately 63 million households by the end of year,” said Myrle McNeal, vice president of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service.
(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is now available in many major markets including: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Tampa, and Orlando. In addition to residential VoIP services, Level 3 offers a full range of wholesale and business voice services. For more information about Level 3’s portfolio of VoIP services, please stop by NCTA booth 4065, or visit www.Level3.com.
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.
