Level 3 Expands Into Eastern Europe

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (www.level3.com) announced today that its European operating subsidiaries are now providing IP services in Prague, Czech Republic.

Level 3 is offering (3)CrossRoads®, its wholesale high-speed Internet access service, to target customers that include ISPs, cable providers, and international carriers selling communications services to Prague-based enterprises. Level 3 is accomplishing the expansion using optical wavelengths leased from another telecom service provider.

"The Czech Republic is one of the fastest growing telecommunications markets in Eastern Europe," said Brady Rafuse, president of Level 3's European operations.

"We believe the addition of Prague as a market in service will significantly enhance Level 3's European network footprint, and we look forward to serving our growing base of customers there."

Among Level 3's initial IP transit customers in Prague is Nextra, a subsidiary of Telenor, the Norwegian incumbent carrier. Telenor, Norway's largest telecommunications group, maintains substantial international mobile operations and, through Nextra, aims to establish itself as a leading IP operator for the business market in the Czech Republic and other European countries.
 
Level 3 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.