Level 3 Signs New Network Services Agreements with ntl
6 October 2004
LONDON, -- October 6, 2004 -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced it has signed new agreements to supply network services in the UK and Ireland to ntl (Nasdaq:NTLI), one of the UK’s largest broadband services providers.
Level 3 will support ntl’s consumer and business broadband offerings with (3)CrossRoads®, its wholesale high-speed Internet access and transport service. Specifically, Level 3 will supply ntl with multiple 2.5Gbps ports in Manchester and diverse 10Gbps ports in London. In addition, ntl has purchased (3)CrossRoads service from Level 3 in Dublin to enhance the Internet services it delivers to enterprises and wholesale communications companies across Ireland.
“With over 3 million customers throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, ntl has clearly established itself as a leading provider of broadband services,” said Brady Rafuse, president of Level 3’s European operations. “We believe ntl’s ability to deliver high-quality voice, video, and Internet access over a single network connection offers a powerful value proposition to both businesses and consumers, evidenced by IP traffic growth over its network and need to upgrade capacity with Level 3. We are very pleased to be serving as ntl’s network partner in both countries, and look forward to growing our relationship with this important customer.”
“We have now significantly enhanced the resilience of our Internet access services by providing more localised points for the collection of regional IP traffic, said Steve Upton, Managing Director of the Networks Division, ntl. “Level 3 has demonstrated its continued strong commitment to customers by investing in its backbone, and we are delighted to be working with them on this important initiative.”
(3)CrossRoads is an Internet Protocol (IP) service offering a wide range of interface types and access locations, including the gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) customer interface option. Level 3 employs a unique network approach to track the destination and monitor the bandwidth usage of IP packets traveling on or off its high-capacity, continuously upgradeable fibre network.
The (3)CrossRoads platform provides the performance, reliability, scalability, and ease of connection companies need to respond to their clients’ increasing demands for data-intensive content, backed by Level 3’s world-class service and support.
As the company announced yesterday, Level 3 has formally launched services in Dublin and increased its network capacity into Manchester to support demand from ntl and other communications service providers.
Level 3 now offers services in 21 European markets, as well as in 77 markets throughout North America.
ntl provides digital cable TV, telephony and broadband services to over 3 million residential customers throughout the UK and to more than 300,000 business and residential customers in the Republic of Ireland. With operational headquarters in Hampshire, UK, ntl employs approximately 12,000 people. ntl reported revenues of more than £2.2 billion in 2003.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its 23,000-mile broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, and patented Softswitch managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.
