Level 3 Network Services Will Support Delivery of HDTV-Digital Channels in Local Markets Nationwide via DIRECTV
BROOMFIELD, Colo., November 3, 2005 – Level 3 Communications (Nasdaq:LVLT), a leading provider of broadband network services, today announced that it has been selected by DIRECTV, Inc., to help provide the nationwide backbone solution, consisting of bandwidth and data center services, that will enable the expansion of DIRECTV’s High Definition Television (HDTV) services.
Under the agreement, Level 3 will upgrade and augment the DIRECTV backbone to support and aggregate HDTV signals from local markets for rebroadcast to DIRECTV customers. Level 3 has worked with DIRECTV since 1999 and currently provides a substantial portion of DIRECTV’s existing private line backbone that supports its standard definition television (SDTV) services.
DIRECTV, the nation’s leading digital television service provider, will roll out hundreds of local and national HDTV channels over the next few years. Level 3’s high-speed nationwide long-haul and metro private line backbone, wavelength services and reliable colocation facilities in key markets will provide the physical-layer redundancy, low latency, and scalability to support DIRECTV’s aggressive expansion plans.
“Level 3 offers the network diversity and scalability, responsiveness and comprehensive service suite that will accommodate our aggressive expansion plans,” said Don Jones, vice president and general manager of DIRECTV’s Castle Rock Broadcast Center in Colorado. “Collaborating with Level 3 to help design our HDTV network ensures that we will be able to offer our customers the highest quality HDTV services available.”
“DIRECTV has an ambitious timeline to complete its rollout of local HDTV, and Level 3 is in an excellent position to help make it happen,” said Glenn Russo, senior vice president of network and Internet services for Level 3. “The momentum behind HDTV is accelerating and we look forward to building an infrastructure that supports the delivery of HDTV to consumers nationwide.”
DIRECTV has initially acquired Level 3 services to support HDTV in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. DIRECTV’s market expansion plans include acquiring Level 3 network and colocation services in 15 additional cities.
Level 3 currently provides Private Line services to DIRECTV to meet SDTV’s demanding requirements for low latency, redundancy, and high-availability.
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.
