EarthLink Telecommunications Chooses Level 3 to Provide Secure Global Connectivity to its Customers

-- Demand in Middle East for Secure, Private Connectivity Led to the Internet Provider Selecting Level 3's Global MPLS/IP VPN Services

LONDON, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) today announced it has been selected by Internet and communication solutions provider, EarthLink Telecommunications, to provide the secure global connectivity needed to support enterprise customers from EarthLink's Middle East location.

EarthLink's 400-plus points of presence enable its customers to communicate in its local market. Yet the company faced the challenge of an ever-increasing demand for enhanced online security and connectivity to worldwide markets, particularly from customers in key local business sectors such as the financial services and oil industries. To meet the needs of its enterprise customers, EarthLink turned to Level 3's MPLS/IP VPN (Multiprotocol Label Switching/Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) services to deliver the necessary secure, private connectivity.

As a direct result of EarthLink's ability to provide Level 3's services to both its wholesale and enterprise customers, the Internet provider has already signed a new contract with one of the region's major oil and gas companies.

Sarmad Hassan, Chief Executive Officer, EarthLink Telecommunications, said: "Working with Level 3 gives us the ability to provide customers with a one-stop shop for connectivity services. We can therefore provide them with secure, robust and reliable network connectivity on a worldwide basis, while helping them to reduce costs."

"As part of our mission of connecting and protecting the networked world, we deliver the services that are needed and where they are needed in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region," said Andrew Crouch, Regional President, EMEA, Level 3. "Working with organisations such as EarthLink, which impressed us with its local footprint, is another piece in the jigsaw in Level 3's mission of connecting different locations across the world to serve customers."

About EarthLink Telecommunications
EarthLink Telecommunications is the largest Internet Service Provider in Iraq. The company was founded in 2005 to provide communication services to home users, enterprises, and government backed by 400-plus points of presence distributed over 15 locations, including every city and town in Iraq. EarthLink is approaching its vision to be a one-stop shop for connectivity and IT services, including network/Internet connectivity, cloud computing, datacenter co-location, enterprise IT solutions, and software development. For more information, please visit www.earthlinktele.com.

About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a Fortune 500 company that provides local, national and global communications services to enterprise, government and carrier customers. Level 3's comprehensive portfolio of secure, managed solutions includes fiber and infrastructure solutions; IP-based voice and data communications; wide-area Ethernet services; video and content distribution; data center and cloud-based solutions. Level 3 serves customers in more than 500 markets in over 60 countries across a global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents and connected by extensive undersea facilities. For more information, please visit www.level3.com or get to know us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

© Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications, Level (3) and the Level 3 Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and elsewhere. Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.

The information contained under the caption "About EarthLink Telecommunications" has been provided by EarthLink Telecommunications, which is solely responsible for its content.

Forward-Looking Statement  
Some statements made in this press release are forward-looking in nature and 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. Important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to: successfully integrate the tw telecom acquisition; manage risks associated with continued uncertainty in the global economy; increase revenue from its services to realize its targets for financial and operating performance; maintain and increase traffic on its network; develop and maintain effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; avert the breach of its network and computer system security measures; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; manage the future expansion or adaptation of its network to remain competitive; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage continued or accelerated decreases in market pricing for communications services; obtain capacity for its network from other providers and interconnect its network with other networks on favorable terms; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; successfully integrate future acquisitions; effectively manage political, legal, regulatory, foreign currency and other risks it is exposed to due to its substantial international operations; mitigate its exposure to contingent liabilities; and meet all of the terms and conditions of its 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.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140908/144115

Related Links

http://www.earthlinktele.com