Level 3 Connects London Stock Exchange to its Extensive Network

LONDON, Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) today announced that it now offers connectivity to its colocation facility at London Stock Exchange Group’s Data Center in the City of London. The point-of-presence (PoP) offers connectivity to the world’s leading financial institutions who are co-located within the Exchange Hosting facility, using Level 3’s global network.

With direct access to a secure and reliable backbone network, Exchange Hosting customers including members of London Stock Exchange Group, non-member firms, vendors and service providers, can leverage fast connectivity and wide network reach over diverse high-speed fibre links on Level 3’s network. The Exchange Hosting Service provides access to the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana, Turquoise and Oslo Bors trading venues.

“Connecting London Stock Exchange Hosting clients to our global network underscores our commitment to continually invest in improving connectivity to the financial community,” said James Heard, president of European Markets for Level 3. “As a result, we can now provide secure connectivity to key participants trading on London Stock Exchange Group’s markets.”

“We are pleased to welcome Level 3 into our colocation facility to provide an increased choice of connectivity to our clients who are hosted within our Primary Data Centre,” said Nigel Harold, Head of Business Development for London Stock Exchange Group’s Technology division. “Hosting clients will now be able to connect Level 3’s low-latency metro, European and transatlantic routes to their own hubs and other business centers and trading venues world-wide.”

The Level 3 network today spans more than 20 countries with presence in approximately 190 markets in Europe and North America. Level 3 manages 57,000 intercity fibre miles and 27,000 metro fibre miles, providing a size and depth of connectivity on a broad scale. To learn more about Level 3’s European capabilities, please click here.

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.

SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc.