Level 3 Launches Channel Partner Program In Europe

LONDON, -- Nov 24, 2004 -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced that it has launched its channel partner program in Europe, which will enable resellers to offer Level 3’s Voice-over-IP and other services to their small and medium-size business customers. The program will debut in the United Kingdom and will expand into other European markets over the course of 2005.

“Level 3’s channel partner program is an integral component of the company’s growth strategy, and it has enjoyed real success since its introduction in North America at the beginning of the year,” said Brady Rafuse, president of European operations for Level 3. “We now look forward to rolling the program out in the UK and the rest of Europe. We believe it offers a significant opportunity for companies who want to leverage Level 3’s suite of enterprise-ready services in order to become voice, Internet and data providers to the business market.”

Level 3 formally launched the EU version of the Level(3)EnabledSM Partner Program today at the Margin in IP event in Birmingham and is now actively recruiting members. Partners are expected to include value-added resellers, ISPs, switchless resellers and alternative carriers. The company expects commercial sales through the program to begin in the first quarter of 2005.

The program is designed to provide channel partners with access to a comprehensive set of tools to evaluate and serve their clients’ voice, Internet and data needs. The program includes extensive training on Level 3 services and a Web-based portal that facilitates every aspect of the partner relationship. Level 3 also provides partners with billing, set up, provisioning and Network Operations Centre (NOC) support, along with demand-generation and marketing programs.

Commencing early 2005, Level 3 will initially focus its partner-recruitment and sales efforts around (3)ToneSM Business, its award-winning Voice-over-IP offering for small and medium-sized enterprises. As a hosted IP voice service, (3)Tone Business delivers significant costs savings compared with traditional PBX deployments, along with features and functionality not possible with legacy voice systems. Other services to be sold through the program in the future include Internet access and IP VPNs.

“Voice-over-IP is revolutionizing the business of telecom by enabling more companies to compete effectively in the enterprise space,” Rafuse said. “Through the Level(3)Enabled Program, Level 3 will serve as their network partner, providing connectivity, expertise and support, while they focus their efforts on sales, marketing and customer care.”

John Irvine, vice president of Level 3’s business and channel development in Europe, noted that program members can either sell services under their own name or choose to leverage the Level 3 brand. “We believe the program is unique in the industry, both in terms of its flexibility and in the high degree of control it provides to participants as they interface with the end user,” Irvine said.

For more details about Level 3’s partner program please visit www.Level3.com/partner, and for more information about Level 3 services, please visit www.Level3.com.

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.