NCREN To Use Level 3's Internet Access Service to Connect Academic and Research Institutions throughout the State
Level 3 Provides Network Services to Growing Number of Academic and Research Institutions
BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 30, 2002 - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced it has signed a three-year, multimillion-dollar contract to provide Internet access service to MCNC, a non-profit technology research, networking and supercomputing service center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
MCNC operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), a high-speed digital network that provides video, audio, and data services to research and education institutions across North Carolina including the 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina (UNC), plus Duke and Wake Forest universities.
Established in 1985, NCREN will use up to one-gigabit of (3)CrossRoads capacity to help researchers and others in the North Carolina academic and research community to collaborate effectively and efficiently online. A majority of the state's academic and research institutions are expected to utilize Level 3's Internet access service.
"We chose Level 3 because of the company's financial stability and because of the performance and cost benefits of the network," said Mark Johnson, MCNC Director of Networking and Engineering. "Our members generate a substantial amount of Internet traffic and require the scalability and connectivity to other networks at the quality the Level 3 network provides."
"We look forward to helping NCREN fulfill the Internet access needs of its member institutions," said Jack Waters, chief technology officer for Level 3. "The opportunities for Level 3 to meet the unique and substantial bandwidth needs of the research and higher education communities are significant and continually growing. We believe Level 3's network quality and operational excellence represent an attractive value proposition for our steadily increasing list of research and academic customers."
In addition to NCREN, Level 3 provides network services - directly or indirectly through consortiums - to a number of other research and academic institutions in the U.S. and Europe including Harvard University, Corporation for Education Network Initiative in California (CENIC), the University of Washington, BELNET, and SURFnet.
Moreover, Level 3 is one of two authorized national providers of network services for members of The Quilt, a group which gathers over 17 leading research and education networking organizations across the United States to promote consistent, reliable, interoperable, and efficient advanced networking services that extend to the broadest possible community.
The Quilt provides a forum for communication, coordination, other interactions and activities among non-profit advanced regional network organizations and other organizations dedicated to advancing research and education in the United States. Participants in The Quilt provide network service for over 150 Internet2 universities and thousands of other educational institutions. For more information, see: www.thequilt.net.
(3)CrossRoads provides connectivity to Level 3's IP network spanning the U.S. and Europe. The Level 3 IP network is uniquely positioned to deliver customers the highest quality of service through its robust, direct connectivity to the majority of the largest broadband and dial-up end users on the Internet.
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.
