Agreement with Cable One Fortifies Level 3’s Leadership in Providing Digital Phone Services to Major U.S. Cable Operators
BROOMFIELD, Colo., November 7, 2005 – Level 3 Communications (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced a multi-year contract to provide voice services to Cable One, the cable broadcasting division of The Washington Post Company. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Cable One operates 52 cable systems serving 720,000 subscribers in 19 states.
Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3 will provide Cable One with Level 3’s (3)VoIP EnhancedSM Local service, enabling Cable One’s new digital calling solution. Level 3’s (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is a voice over IP (VoIP) solution that enables companies who operate their own class 5 feature servers to launch IP-based local and long-distance communications services to residential and enterprise customers via any broadband connection.
“We have an aggressive timeline for developing our digital voice services, which we expect to launch in 2006,” said Steve Fox, vice president of digital services and technology for Cable One. “To meet this milestone we looked to Level 3 to provide the network and services that will decrease our time to market. The relationship we’ve formed with Level 3 is ideal. We’re able to build our calling services based on their industry leading network while retaining the ownership, control and flexibility of our services.”
“Our network has been built to allow cable operators such as Cable One to cost effectively speed the development and deployment of high-quality VoIP services that include important features such as our Level (3) E-911 DirectSM service,” said Myrle McNeal, senior vice president of Local Voice Services for Level 3. “The cable segment is a core focus for the company and we currently provide a number of services to many of the largest cable operators in the nation. We look forward to working with Cable One to develop digital phone services and drive widespread VoIP adoption.”
Level 3 has been providing a wholesale VoIP solution with its (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service since May 2004. The service is used by cable operators, as well as carriers, Internet Service providers and other companies eager to have a quick to market, cost-effective, regulatory-compliant IP voice solution. Level (3) E-911 Direct, a portfolio of E-911 solutions, includes an FCC compliant solution for nomadic VoIP providers and a fixed-line solution with network connections to PSAPs that serve approximately 67% of all US households.
(3)VoIP Enhanced Local Service
(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides the essential components required to offer high-quality VoIP service. These components include network trunking, local numbers, local number portability, E-911, operator assistance, directory listings, and directory assistance. At the same time, the (3)VoIP Enhanced Local solution allows Level 3 customers to retain the flexibility to manage and control end-user features without the challenges of implementing complex interconnection arrangements.
For more information about Level 3’s broad portfolio of voice over IP (VoIP) services, please visit www.Level3.com.
About Cable One
Cable One, the cable division of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO), operates 52 cable systems serving 705,000 subscribers in 19 states. For more information about Cable One, visit www.cableone.net.
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.
