CARRIER GROUP FORMS
Coalition Advocates Rapid Adoption of Protocol Standards to Integrate the PSTN with Newer Internet Protocol (IP) Networks
OMAHA, NEBRASKA, December 15, 1998 – A coalition of telecommunications carriers has announced the formation of the Packet Multimedia Carrier Coalition dedicated to the rapid establishment of protocols designed to bridge between current circuit-based public switched telephone networks (PSTN) and emerging Internet Protocol (IP) technology based networks. Coalition members, including, Frontier Communications, GTE, ICG Telecom Group, Illuminet, IXC Communications, Level 3 Communications, NEXTLINK Communications, NTT America, SBC Technology Resources, Sprint, TESS, LLC, Time Warner Telecom and Williams, are committed to providing customers with the best of both the traditional PSTN and the newer IP technology networks.
To do this, new protocols are needed that will allow the seamless integration of these two types of networks. Such integration will enable customers to benefit from the lower cost of IP network services, including voice and fax, without modifying existing telephones and fax equipment or dialing access codes. The goals of the Coalition include development of a number of protocol sets that address issues related to the bridging of the PSTN with IP technology networks. For example, one protocol set would outline requirements for traffic exchange between the PSTN and IP networks in such areas as interoperability, reliability and performance. Once developed, the protocols would be submitted to both the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards bodies.
"The Packet Multimedia Carrier Coalition gives carriers a clear voice in the standards making process," said Isaac Elliott, chairman of the Coalition and senior director of voice network engineering for Level 3 Communications. "Our aim is to provide input into the standards approval process at both the IETF and the ITU."
"This Coalition was established to facilitate the rapid deployment of the kinds of new technologies our customers are demanding," said Mark Hewitt, senior director of engineering and product development at Frontier Communications. "We fully support its goals."
"We believe voice over Internet protocol, as well as other Internet protocol technologies, can be enablers for making information available to any customer with any type of communication device," said Robert Flood, ICG chief technology officer. "This will, however, require a more complete suite of standards and signaling functionality to tie the existing telephony infrastructure to a future packet-based infrastructure. We see the Packet Multimedia Carrier Coalition as an important vehicle to achieve these goals."
"The significance of the Coalition is its charter of interoperability not only between IP carriers but also the PSTN," said Lori Mullane, manager of business development at Illuminet. "It is imperative that regardless of the underlying infrastructure that is utilized by a carrier, whether it is circuit-based or packet-based, that service remains seamless to the customer. An open carrier forum helps achieve this."
"The Carrier Coalition provides a means for all communications service providers to address interoperability issues," said Chris Rothlis, vice president of new product development at IXC Communications. "Customers are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Coalition's efforts. Through efforts like this, communications service providers will deliver on the promise of converged networks."
"The advance of standards providing for the interoperability between legacy networks and equipment and next generation networks is essential to the future of our industry," said Doug Carter, senior vice president of technology at NEXTLINK Communications. "We look forward to the point when these standards exist, allowing for the construction of networks based on open, cost effective, standards-based equipment from a broad array of participating vendors."
"NTT America supports the goals of the Coalition which include providing a unified voice in the development of telecommunications protocols," said Kaz Yozawa, vice president of NTT America. "Now is the time to look at standardization with the emergence of the Internet Protocol technology based networks."
"Sprint is very actively involved in the development and near term deployment of broadband network service delivery elements that can be advantaged by uniformly designed control interfaces," said Terry Yake, vice president of applied research at Sprint Long Distance Division. "Standardized interfaces will give greater opportunities for service providers to select among the best manufacturers of control and inter-working devices."
"TESS is looking forward to the new standard being defined by these efforts," said Stephan H. Andrade, president of TESS. "The true beneficiary will be the customer by having a better network."
"Time Warner Telecom looks forward to participating in the interoperability of IP and PSTN," said Graham Powers, senior vice president, engineering and technology. "We are pleased to be part of the Packet Multimedia Carrier Coalition team and believe it will be instrumental in bringing voice over IP services to the marketplace."
Carriers Support MGCP In the area of external control of media gateways, the Coalition announced its intention to support the IETF media gateway control standard when finalized. "We are encouraged and excited by the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) draft that has been submitted to the IETF mailing lists," said Michael Vent, executive vice president and chief technology officer at IXC Communications. "We are seeing rapid progress toward an acceptable standard in the IETF and recognize standards as a key element of future network quality and interoperability." MGCP represents a combination of the Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) specification developed by a consortium made up of leading communications hardware and software companies and the Simple Gateway Control Protocol (SGCP). MGCP enables external control and management of data communications equipment operating at the edge of emerging multi-service packet networks, known as 'media gateways', by software programs known as 'call agents' or 'media gateway controllers.' Examples of media gateway devices include voice over IP gateways, voice over ATM gateways, modem banks, cable modems and set-top boxes, soft PBXs, and circuit cross connects. A draft of the MGCP specification was recently submitted to the IETF as well as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute Telecommunications & Internet Protocol Harmonization Over Networks (ETSI TIPHON) working group for review and modification. The draft can be found at http://www.l3.com/company/nov1698.html.
About the Packet Multimedia Carrier Coalition
The Packet Multimedia Carrier Coalition is an open body and welcomes participation by communications service providers. There are no fees associated with Coalition membership. For more information on the Coalition, contact Level 3 Communications via e-mail at Carrier.Coalition@Level3.com.
Member companies include: Frontier Communications, a unit of Frontier Corporation (NYSE:FRO), is one of the leading providers of integrated communications services-including Internet, IP and data applications, long distance, local telephone and wireless-to- business customers nationwide. The self-healing Frontier Optronics NetworkSM provides customers with faster transmission speeds, greater bandwidth capacity and unrivaled reliability. For more information, visit the Frontier Web site at www.frontiercorp.com.
GTE – With 1997 revenues of more than $23 billion, GTE is one of the world's largest telecommunications companies and a leading provider of integrated telecommunications services. In the United States, GTE provides local service in 28 states and wireless service in 17 states; nationwide long-distance and internetworking services ranging from dial-up Internet access for residential and small-business consumers to Web-based applications for Fortune 500 companies, as well as video service in selected markets.
ICG Telecom Group – ICG Netcom is the brand name for products and services from ICG Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICGX) and ICG's subsidiary, NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. The combined entity is a leading integrated communications provider (ICP) offering high-quality telecommunications services. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., ICG has extensive switched fiber-optic networks and offers local, long distance and enhanced telephony and data services in California, Colorado, the Ohio Valley and parts of the southeastern United States. The company provides Internet communication solutions, connectivity and Web site hosting to individuals and to small- and medium-sized businesses through its subsidiary, NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc. ICG is also a leading designer and installer of copper, fiber and wireless infrastructure for buildings and campuses. Further information is available on ICG's Web site located at www.icgcomm.com.
Illuminet (www.illuminetSS7.com) provides advanced signaling network technology and enhanced applications, including local number portability, wireless fraud management, SS7 network usage measurement and billing services to more than 1,000 local, interexchange, wireless and multimedia carriers throughout North America and in parts of Asia.
IXC Communications' network-based delivery solutions are designed to address the speed and capacity requirements of the global communications market. Having completed the first new coast-to-coast fiber optic network in the United States in more than a decade, IXC Communications, Inc. is at the forefront of the industry's new class of emerging domestic and international carriers. IXC offerings include private line, broadband, Internet and long distance switched and dedicated services. IXC is a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq under the symbol IIXC. IXC's Web site is at www.ixc-comm.com.
Level 3 Communications, Inc., is a communications and information services company that 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. The company expects to complete the U.S. intercity portion of the network during the first quarter of 2001. In the interim, Level 3 has signed an agreement to lease a national network over which it began to offer services in the third quarter of 1998. Level 3 will provide a full range of communications services (including local, long distance, international and Internet services). Level 3's common stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol LVLT. Its World Wide Web address is www.Level3.com.
NEXTLINK Communications, Inc. was founded by Craig McCaw in 1994 to provide local, long distance and enhanced communications services to commercial customers and is one of the fastest growing competitive telecommunications providers in the nation. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., NEXTLINK currently operates 19 facilities-based networks providing switched local and long distance services in 33 markets in 11 states.
NTT America was founded in 1987 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), one of the world's largest telecommunications service providers. Today, it is recognized as a leading provider of state-of-the-art products and services, as well as a major player in the quest for new communications solutions through innovative research. Its World Wide Web address is www.nttamerica.com.
SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (TRI) is the applied research subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc., the $24 billion communications leader formerly known as Southwestern Bell Corporation. TRI provides technology consulting and expertise to the SBC Communications family of companies, exploring new ways to incorporate leading-edge technology into communications products and services.
Sprint is a global communications company – at the forefront in integrating long distance, local and wireless communications services and the world's largest carrier of Internet traffic. Sprint built and operates the United States' only nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and is the leader in advanced data communication services. Sprint has $14 billion in annual revenues and serves more than 16 million business and residential customers.
TESS, LLC. – TESS, LLC. is a private Integrated Communications Provider, offering Company offering innovative, cost-effective, communications solutions for small to medium-sized businesses and residential customers. Headquartered in Evergreen, CO, TESS is working in the southwestern United States offering local dial-tone, long-distance, internet and video services.
Time Warner Telecom – Time Warner Telecom, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo., is a fiber, facilities-based integrated communications provider of local telephony products and services to medium and large business customers in 19 U.S. cities. Time Warner Telecom, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo., is a fiber, facilities-based integrated communications provider of local telephony products and services to medium and large business customers in 19 U.S. cities.
Williams (NYSE:WMB), through its subsidiaries, provides a full range of traditional and leading-edge communications and energy services, and is the nation's largest volume transporter of natural gas. Williams' communications enterprises include a U.S.-based wholesale multimedia fiber-optic network; North American single-source business communications systems integration; international video satellite and fiber-optic transmission, multipoint video and audio conferencing and satellite business applications. Williams information is available at www.twc.com and www.wilcom.com.
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.
