Level 3 Expands European Network To Vienna

Company Also Doubling IP Capacity On German Network Ring

HostReview.com
Thursday, December 18, 2003; 12:00 AM

LONDON, December 18, 2003 - Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced it has expanded its European network to Vienna, Austria. The Level 3 network now serves 20 of Western Europe's largest markets.

In addition, Level 3 is doubling IP capacity on one of the two network rings it operates in Germany. The ring, connecting Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Karlsruhe, Frankfurt and Leipzig, will have an expanded capacity of 10 gigabits per second.

"These moves are the the latest in a series of steps we've taken to augment our European network in response to customer demand," said Brady Rafuse, president of Level 3's European operations.

"Over the past two years, we have more than doubled the number of markets we serve in Europe. Doing so, we believe, has significantly increased our addressable customer base and enhanced the scope and quality of our product offerings. We look forward to having an expanded presence on the continent, and continuing to provide network services of the highest quality to our wholesale customers."

Level 3's latest European expansion follows recent announcements by the company that it was extending its network into Leipzig and Copenhagen and increasing network capacity into Stockholm. Level 3 accomplished the Vienna expansion with wavelengths leased from another carrier.

Level 3's fibre optic network spans 22,500 miles and serves 20 of the largest markets in Europe, as well as 68 markets across North America. In addition, the company operates metropolitan networks in 36 cities, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt. Level 3 also has network capacity on high-speed transatlantic cable systems.

About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport, colocation services, Genuity managed services, and patented Softswitch-based managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.

The company offers information services through its subsidiaries, (i)Structure and Software Spectrum. For additional information, visit their respective Web sites at www.softwarespectrum.com and
www.i-structure.com.

The Level 3 logo is a registered service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries