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Level 3 and BT Team to Provide Wimbledon Broadcast

    BT Broadcast Services Using Transatlantic Capacity from Level 3 to Transmit Wimbledon Television Signal from London to New York

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) announced today that BT Broadcast Services, a subsidiary of BT, is using transatlantic capacity purchased on Level 3's global fiber-optic network in order to transmit live television signals from The Championships at Wimbledon in London to NBC's broadcast facilities in New York.

"We are pleased to be working with BT Broadcast Services to deliver television signals from Wimbledon to NBC," said Bob Yates, president of Level 3's operations in Europe. "The Championships at Wimbledon are one of the premier sporting events in the world. This agreement is further testament to both the reliability and cost efficiency of Level 3's fiber-optic network. We look forward to working with BT on the broadcast of similar events in the future."

BT Broadcast Services is using Level 3's (3)Link Private Line International service. With (3)Link Private Line, customers purchase dedicated amounts of bandwidth connecting fixed locations while bypassing the public switched telephone network. The service is typically purchased by customers that need to transmit large amounts of data, video or voice quickly and efficiently.

BT Broadcast Services is routing live television signals from the tennis tournament to Level 3's London data center. Level 3 is then transporting those signals across the Atlantic using redundant circuits on its high-speed submarine cable system. In New York, BT Broadcast Services is delivering the signals to NBC for broadcast to millions of viewers across the United States. The Wimbledon tournament runs through Sunday, July 8.

"We are happy with the service that Level 3 has provided. It has added to our coverage of the event," said Paul Claydon, Head of Occasional Services at BT Broadcast Services. "I see this facility being of considerable value in the future as an additional part of our service."

(3)Link Private Line and (3)Link Private Line International are service marks of Level 3 Communications, Inc


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.