Level 3 Provides CDN Services for RuTube, Helping Increase Video Views on the Popular Russian Video Portal Site by 15 Percent

LONDON, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) today announced that it has been selected to provide content delivery network (CDN) services to Russian online video portal RuTube, enabling the delivery of the portals video content throughout Europe. Since Level 3 began providing service to the company in April 2011, RuTube tests have shown significant improvements in the quality and reach of its video content, resulting in  a 15 percent jump in the number of full video views on the site.

“Using Level 3’s CDN services, we’re able to steadily increase the capacity of our video platform and seamlessly meet demand as our online audience grows,” said RuTube chief technology officer Evgeny Kukushkin. “By helping us increase the quality and reach of our content, we’ve seen not only a significant increase in total video views, but also an increase in views of our advertising — a critical factor in helping us monetize our content.”

With Level 3’s highly scalable CDN services, bandwidth-intensive content such as video can be more quickly and efficiently delivered to RuTube users in Russia and internationally, regardless of how many users are requesting the video content at once. Since April, Level 3’s CDN has been able to easily support the delivery of 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) of peak traffic for RuTube. At the same time, with Level 3’s CDN, RuTube has been able to noticeably increase the quality of video playbacks, an important factor in improving end-user experience on the site.

“For customers like RuTube, whose business model depends on the reliable, high-quality delivery of video content, meeting users’ expectation is critical,” said James Heard, president of European Markets at Level 3. “With Level 3’s CDN platform, RuTube has instant international connectivity and network scalability without the significant investment it would take to build out that infrastructure on their own. As demand for content such as video grows, we’re committed to expanding the reach of our CDN services to meet the needs of our content customers in Russia and internationally.”

For more information on Level 3’s CDN capabilities, please visit www.level3.com/en/Products-and-Services/Video/Content.aspx.

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. Level 3 services are provided by wholly-owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.  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.

SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc.