Level 3 Completes Construction of More Than 15,000 Miles Of 16,000-Mile North American Intercity Network Through Third Quarter
Company Remains Ahead of Schedule in Completing Network Construction
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 3-- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT - news) today announced it has completed construction of more than 15,000 miles of its 16,000-mile North American intercity network through the third quarter.
``We continue to remain ahead of schedule in the completion of construction along our North American and European intercity networks,'' said Kevin O'Hara, president and chief operating officer for Level 3. ``Our multi-conduit network design allows us to deploy newer generations of fiber as they become available, enabling us to reduce unit costs so that our customers can enjoy greater cost advantages.''
Level 3 designed its North American and European networks to be continuously upgradeable. Constructed with multiple conduits, these networks allow Level 3 and its customers to take advantage of ongoing improvements in optical fiber technology. As new optical fiber technology is developed, Level 3 can install it through one of the network's empty conduits, rather than having to reconstruct the network. Traditional networks are heavily invested in past or present technology with limited or no upgrade paths.
Level 3 is in the process of installing fiber throughout one of the conduits in its intercity network in North America and Europe. The company announced in late August that it plans to begin deploying a new generation of LEAF fiber from Corning through a second conduit in its North American intercity network in the first quarter of 2001. Level 3 also recently announced that it has completed construction and installed fiber in Ring 1 of its European intercity network, which connects London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Brussels. Level 3 expects to complete construction of Ring 2 of its European intercity network during the fourth quarter of this year.
Network Activation
As Level 3 completes construction of the conduits along its intercity network and installs fiber throughout the first conduit, it will continue activating segments. A number of Level 3 services have already been sold on the activated portions, including Global Wavelengths, private lines and other network services.
``We've been ahead of schedule in terms of activating our network, as well,'' said O'Hara. ``As we migrate customer traffic to activated portions of our network, we are able to lower our operational costs and enable our IP intensive customers to bypass congested Internet traffic exchange points and, in turn, offer improved performance and service to their business and residential customers.''
Metropolitan Networks
Level 3 currently offers service over leased or owned metropolitan networks in 47 U.S., European and Asian cities, which are interconnected by Level 3's intercity networks across the U.S. and Europe, and joined by transoceanic cable. Of these 47 cities, Level 3 has built and operates its own metropolitan networks in 26 U.S. markets and 5 European markets. In the United States, Level 3 has metropolitan broadband networks in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Jersey City, Long Island, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, Stamford, Tampa and Washington, D.C. In Europe, Level 3 has completed and operates metropolitan networks in Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London and Paris.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 (Nasdaq: LVLT - news) is a global communications and information services company offering a wide selection of IP-based services including broadband transport, colocation services, submarine transmission services and the industry's first Softswitch* based services. Level 3 offers services primarily to IP intensive companies that deliver their services over the Level 3 Network. The Level 3 Network will include metropolitan networks in 56 U.S. markets and 21 European and Asian markets connected by an approximately 16,000 mile U.S. intercity (long-distance) network, an approximately 4,750 mile European intercity network, both transpacific and transatlantic undersea cables and 6.5 million square feet of gateway and technical space. Level 3 expects to substantially complete its U.S. network and second ring European intercity network by the fourth quarter of 2000. Level 3 currently offers broadband infrastructure services in 41 U.S. markets, five European markets and one Asian market. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.
(*Softswitches are advanced software based switching systems that enable Level 3 to provide services combining the best features of the Internet and traditional telephone networks.)
Some of the statements made by Level 3 in this press release are forward- looking in nature. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Level 3 believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to: substantial capital requirements; development of effective internal processes and systems; the ability to attract and retain high quality employees; changes in the overall economy; technology; the number and size of competitors in its markets; law and regulatory policy; and the mix of products and services offered in the company's target markets. 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 release should be evaluated in light of these important factors.
SOURCE: Level 3 Communications, Inc. |
