Level 3 Completes Substantial Expansion of Global CDN Capacity to Support Rising CDN Demand

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LAS VEGAS, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) today announced it has completed a substantial expansion of the global capacity of its content delivery network (CDN). The expansion, which was completed in less than two years, more than doubles the company's CDN capacity to support customer growth and increased demand.

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Level 3 has increased its globally available CDN capacity to more than 5.6 Tbps (terabits per second) from 2.15 Tbps in late 2010. The expansion is in response to increased demand from entertainment and enterprise customers' for fast, reliable and scalable event-based and steady state or continuous content delivery.

In addition to increasing its CDN capacity, Level 3 has expanded its CDN service offering to new markets in Buenos Aires (Argentina); Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Medellin (Colombia); Jeddah (Saudi Arabia); and Montreal and Toronto (Canada). Level 3 is also continuing its work to grow its deployments in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America.

The expansion helped one of Level 3's largest CDN customers, Netflix, Inc., expand its business into other countries.

"Level 3's growing CDN and network scalability helped us expand our business into new markets, specifically Latin America, the UK and Ireland," said Greg Peters, vice president of Product Development for Netflix. "Level 3's speed, consistency and ability to scale help us deliver a great Netflix experience for our members worldwide."

"Level 3 sees first-hand the ever-increasing global demand for the best network connections and content platform," said Anthony Christie, Chief Marketing Officer for Level 3. "That's why we remain laser-focused on expanding our network to deliver high-quality, secure video content over the Internet and to satisfy customers' burgeoning demand for our newest suite of Web acceleration products. Level 3 has the network platform and capabilities to deliver a truly scalable, efficient CDN that grows as our customers' businesses grow."

Level 3 has offered a comprehensive suite of CDN services since 2007. In 2011, the company's CDN services represented approximately two percent of its Core Network Services (CNS) revenue. The company expects its CDN platform will continue to represent approximately two percent of CNS revenue in 2012.

For more information about Level 3's CDN services, visit: www.level3.com/en/products-and-services/video/cdn/.

Level 3 will be at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on April 16-19 (in the South Hall – SU10415) to discuss its CDN capabilities. To see a live feed of the booth, visit www.level3.com/NAB2012.

About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a premier global provider of IP-based communications services to enterprise, content, government and wholesale customers. Over its reliable, scalable and secure network, Level 3 delivers integrated IP solutions, including converged, data, voice, video and managed solutions to help enable customers' growth and efficiency. Level 3 operates a unique global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents in more than 45 countries, connected by extensive undersea facilities. For more information, visit www.level3.com.

© Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications and the Level 3 Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.  Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. 

Website Access to Company Information
Level 3 maintains a corporate website at www.level3.com, and you can find additional information about the company through the Investors pages on that website at http://lvlt.client.shareholder.com/. Level 3 uses its website as a channel of distribution of important information about the company. Level 3 routinely posts financial and other important information regarding the company and its business, financial condition and operations on the Investor Relations web pages.

Visitors to the Investors Relations web pages can view and print copies of Level 3's SEC filings, including periodic and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, as soon as reasonably practicable after those filings are made with the SEC.

Copies of the charters for each of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Governance committees of Level 3's Board of Directors, its Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics, press releases and analysts and investor conference presentations are all available through the Investor Relations web pages.

Please note that the information contained on any of Level 3's web sites is not incorporated by reference in, or considered to be a part of, any document unless expressly incorporated by reference in that document.

Forward-Looking Statement
Some statements made in this press release are forward-looking in nature and 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 Level 3's control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. Important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to: successfully integrate the Global Crossing acquisition or otherwise realize the anticipated benefits thereof; manage risks associated with continued uncertainty in the global economy; obtain additional financing, particularly in the event of disruptions in the financial markets; manage continued or accelerated decreases in market pricing for communications services; maintain and increase traffic on its network; develop and maintain effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; adapt to rapid technological changes that could adversely affect the company's competitiveness; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; obtain capacity for its network from other providers and interconnect its network with other networks on favorable terms; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; successfully integrate future acquisitions; effectively manage political, legal, regulatory, foreign currency and other risks it is exposed to due to its substantial international operations; mitigate its exposure to contingent liabilities; and meet all of the terms and conditions of its 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.

SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc.