Level 3 Optimizes Network Fiber Routes to Offer Ultra-Low-Latency to Milan and Zurich for High-Speed Trade Execution

Routes Give Financial Services Customers Access to All Six Major European Financial Centres, Key U.S. Centres

LONDON--()--Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) today announced it has added ultra-low-latency network routes to Milan and Zurich to its European financial services portfolio. The routes are available from London, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York City and Chicago. The routes further deepen Level 3’s commitment to the financial services industry and provide financial exchanges and trading venues with access to all six major European financial centres as well as key U.S. centres over Level 3’s international network.

With the low-latency routes, customers connecting to financial centres in Milan and Zurich have the ability to access high-speed transport rates with low transmission delays – essential functions for high-frequency trading. In addition to the routes to Milan and Zurich, Level 3’s low-latency network footprint offers connectivity to all of the following financial business centres: Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York City, London, Frankfurt, and Madrid.

“In today’s financial services market, particularly in high-frequency trading, the goal is to have the fastest connection to the most important financial hubs, so choosing the right network partner for that connectivity is critical,” said James Heard, president of European Markets. “Not only are we regularly upgrading our network to consistently offer the fastest routes, we have the network reach to give our customers access to more of the world’s financial centers from a single provider.”

As high-frequency trading increases and significant amounts of capital are exchanged in fractions of a second, the connectivity that enables those trades becomes that much more important. In 2010, financial markets research and strategic advisory firm TABB Group estimated high-frequency traders accounted for approximately 56 percent of total equity trading in the U.S. and 38 percent in Europe.

Level 3’s European financial services portfolio includes nine total low-latency route options, and is specifically designed to meet the needs of the most demanding financial services customers – including the growing high-frequency trading market. Level 3’s extensive network footprint provides access to four of the top five financial exchanges.

Because Level 3 controls and operates its own network, the company is uniquely able to manage the delivery process from end-to-end and optimize it each step of the way. Transactions on the routes are further backed by network redundancy and stringent service level agreements (SLAs), guaranteeing performance on the Level 3 network. For more information on Level 3’s financial services portfolio, please visit www.level3.com/index.cfm?pageID=135.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.Level3.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Some of the statements made 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 Level 3’s control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to: the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy; a discontinuation of the development and expansion of the Internet as a communications medium and marketplace for the distribution and consumption of data and video; and disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3’s ability to obtain additional financing. Additional factors include, but are not limited to, the company’s ability to: increase and maintain the volume of traffic on its network; develop effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; adapt to rapid technological changes that lead to further competition; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; successfully integrate acquisitions; and meet all of the terms and conditions of 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.

Contacts

Level 3 Communications
Media:
Alexis Hammack, 720-888-2441
Email
or
Investors:
Mark Stoutenberg, 720-888-2518
Email

Contacts

Level 3 Communications
Media:
Alexis Hammack, 720-888-2441
Email
or
Investors:
Mark Stoutenberg, 720-888-2518
Email