LONDON, September 22, 2005 – Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced the execution of a new agreement to supply network services to RENATER, a Paris-based operator of academic research networks.
Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Level 3’s European operating subsidiaries will provide intercity dark fibre and colocation services to support the RENATER 4 project, an upgrade to RENATER’s existing network infrastructure designed to increase end-user capacity and enhance and enable new high-speed services. The Level 3 fibre will connect the markets of Paris, Nancy and Strasbourg.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with RENATER as a network provider for this important research initiative,” said Brady Rafuse, Level 3’s president of European operations. “Over the past several years, university networks have emerged as a significant source of demand for infrastructure services, and Level 3 is ideally positioned to serve this market, both in Europe and the U.S. We look forward to working with RENATER, and to expanding our relationship with them as they move forward.”
“Advanced research applications that depend on network computing continue to grow in importance at universities across France and around the world,” said RENATER Director Dany Vandromme. “The RENATER 4 project will significantly enhance the capabilities of our network and deliver enormous benefits to our academic customers. We’re pleased to be working with Level 3, one of the industry’s leading providers of infrastructure to the academic research market.”
Founded in 1991, RENATER is the French national network for research, education and technology, Its network backbone links regional networks across 20 regions in France and also provides international connectivity. The RENATER network uses the TEN-34 network to connect to other National Research Networks (NRNs) including DFN, JANET, SWITCH and CERN.
RENATER also has a 10 Gbps link to the next-generation Europe-wide GEANT2 network. GEANT2 is operated by Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe (DANTE), a non-profit organisation based in the United Kingdom that plans, builds and operates high-bandwidth networks for universities and other research organisations. Level 3 also serves as a dark fibre and colocation provider to DANTE for GEANT2, which will serve more than three million users across 34 countries.
Infrastructure services from Level 3 provide academic and research communities with the facilities required to operate and maintain advanced fibre-optic research networks that can serve highly specialized, bandwidth-intensive applications now and into the future. The services include optical fibre cable, fibre-based network extensions, colocation and running line facility space, power, and operation and maintenance of the network.
Level 3’s intercity dark fibre services feature more than 19,000 intercity route miles in the United States connecting more than 150 cities, and an approximately 3,600-mile European network. Level 3’s network employs high fibre counts, the latest generation of optical fibre, and carrier-neutral colocation facilities.
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.
