LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES WASHINGTON, D.C. FACILITY
Level 3 Expects To Have Operations In 12-15 Cities By Year-End
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 22, 1998 – Level 3 Communications, (Nasdaq: LVLT), today announced that it will this week begin providing certain telecommunications services in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as part of its national city roll-out. Level 3 is building the first international network optimized for Internet Protocol technology. The Level 3 Network will combine both local and long distance networks, connecting customers end-to-end across the U.S. and in Europe and Asia.
By year-end, the company expects to be offering service in 12-15 U.S. cities. Level 3 has announced it will construct local city networks directly serving businesses in 25 U.S. cities within the next three years. Ultimately, the company plans to offer local service capabilities over fiber facilities in 50 U.S. cities. Additionally, the company is currently building a 15,000 mile long distance network.
About Level 3's Washington, D.C. Operations
The Level 3 office and operations facility is located at 1755 Old Meadow Road in McLean, Virginia. The 45,000 square foot facility will house the local sales staff, operational staff and gateway switch equipment, along with additional space for expansion and collocation services. Initially, Level 3 plans to employ approximately 35 professionals at the facility. The space was leased from West Group Properties through the services of Tishman Real Estate/HBW Group.
"We believe that, over time, Level 3 can have a positive impact on the business community in this city and the other cities we serve as we introduce advanced, more cost effective services, invest in advanced infrastructure in these cities, create jobs and contribute to the tax base. We will work hard to earn the trust of our D.C. metro customers and the city overall by providing high quality service and contributing as a corporate citizen," said Laurie Noce, Level 3 Washington, D.C. city director. "From the Dulles and I-270 technology corridors to the government and business communities in downtown D.C., we are now positioned to set new standards in the industry with the most advanced communications services and highest quality of customer support, all at competitive prices. The Level 3 Washington D.C. metro office is extremely pleased to be a part of such a technically progressive business community," expressed Noce.
Level 3 believes it is now installing the basic building blocks for the future of communications in Washington and cities across the nation. By building a network based on IP technology, Level 3 is positioning itself to take advantage of what it sees as a fundamental technological shift in communications. The company believes that this shift from 100-year-old circuit switching technology to the newer Internet Protocol technology will change the way businesses communicate, and that the shift is as important as that from the telegraph to the telephone, or from the mainframe to the PC.
Initial Services Offered
Level 3 is positioning itself to begin providing businesses with basic, but critical services on a competitive basis. Initially, Level 3 will use leased network capacity and, as its national IP-based network is completed, the company will be able to seamlessly switch customers to its own network. The initial suite of products being offered to business customers by Level 3 include the following services:
Private Lines - a point-to-point service used to provide communications from one company location to another.
Managed Modem - a complete outsourcing solution for Internet dial-up network management.
Telephony Colocation - a state-of-the-art network facility of telephone and Web-hosting equipment to provide reliable and secure 24-hour access for mission critical equipment.
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.
