Level 3 Provides Professional Sports Quality Broadcast Services to Universities Across the U.S.

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 15, 2011/PRNewswire/ — Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT), which delivers some of the most-watched sporting events in the world, today announced a new service that will make high-quality, professional sports broadcast services available to universities. Level 3 is supporting the University of Florida and its network of affiliated organizations including WUFT-TV, the University of Florida Athletic Association and Florida LambdaRail (FLR), to deploy its Vyvx VenueNet Lite service to support the high definition delivery of the university’s football, basketball and baseball games as well as other programming featuring coaches, analysts and fans.

“We were looking for a scalable broadcast solution that could be employed at several of our Gator sports venues, offering the same high-quality transmission that’s delivered by professional sports broadcasts,” saidJon Rubin, Director of Multimedia Operations for Florida’s University Athletic Association. “Level 3’s VenueNet Lite solution is ideal because it allows us to utilize our existing campus fiber network to connect our three major sports venues and our on-campus studio.”

Randy Wright, Executive Director of the University of Florida’s Division of Multimedia Properties, added, “Now we can easily distribute all of our content in the highest resolution available, giving our fans — the Gator Nation — access to more of our programming. The service also offers major broadcast networks the ability to interconnect seamlessly to televise our games and other content nationally.”

“Level 3’s Vyvx suite of services has an international reputation in providing the highest quality professional sports broadcasts to some of the largest TV networks, and we’re proud to now offer reliable and proven solutions to leading universities,” said Mark Taylor, vice president of Content and Media at Level 3. “Not only do we offer professional-level broadcasts for college sports, but also the inaugural launch of our VenueNet Lite service at the University of Florida will give the Gators a customizable broadcast solution that can support a variety of on-campus venues.”

The Vyvx VenueNet Lite service provides a centralized, scalable solution that uses a university’s existing fiber infrastructure to connect all major sports locations on the campus — eliminating the need for satellite trucks and expediting the video feed booking process. The service is supported by a 24×7 operations team.

For more information on VenueNet Lite and Level 3’s advanced event delivery capabilities, please visit www.level3.com/Products-and-Services/Video/Vyvx/VenueNet-Lite.aspx.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc.(NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) 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.

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

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.