Hexcel Corporation Selects Level 3's Global Network Services to Support International Growth

-- Advanced Composites Manufacturing Company Chooses Level 3's IP VPN and Colocation Services to Support 25 Sites and 5,000 Staff Worldwide

LONDON, Sept. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) today announced that Hexcel Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of advanced composites, has selected Level 3's IP VPN (Internet protocol virtual private network) and colocation services to support its continued global expansion.     

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111004/LA77008LOGO)

Hexcel, which manufactures high-performance composites for aerospace and industrial applications, required additional capacity and global network reach to support an expanding international team. The company's 5,000 manufacturing and sales staff operate from 25 sites worldwide and are heavily dependent on using networked manufacturing, ERP (enterprise resource planning) and other enterprise software securely.    

Level 3's Ethernet IP VPN will replace legacy frame relay switched connections, driving cost-efficiencies and adding extra capacity while allowing for the prioritisation of traffic using MPLS (multiprotocol label switching). In addition, operating on Level 3's end-to-end global IP network provides Hexcel with streamlined vendor management and procurement processes, as well as increased security by providing enhanced control of data.      

Hexcel has also selected Level 3's new European data centre in Hayes, UK, for colocation services. This will provide crucial redundancy facilities, allowing its mission-critical services to remain online in the event of any outages and providing significant efficiency and cost-benefits.

"We chose Level 3 because the company's global network reach provides us with numerous options in terms of regional and technical development," said Patrick Winterlich, VP and CIO, Hexcel Corporation. "We were impressed by the company's capabilities, in particular the ability to provide Ethernet connections to the vast majority of our sites. Level 3's secure global IP network services also provide us with high-level visibility of all traffic and a single point of contact." 

"The innovative global projects that Hexcel Corporation is involved in rely on network services for fast and secure manufacturing across multiple sites and geographies," said Tim Passingham, Level 3's senior vice president of EMEA Enterprise Business. "Our global network and associated services are designed for fast-growing companies like Hexcel Corporation that want to ensure a collaborative working environment, as well as scalable and secure growth worldwide."

For more information on Level 3's advanced network and service offerings, visit www.level3.com.

About Hexcel
Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced composites company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials, including carbon fibers, reinforcements for composites, prepregs, honeycomb, matrix systems, adhesives and composite structures, used in commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications. For more information visit www.hexcel.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 55 countries over a global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents and connected by extensive undersea facilities. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.  For more information, please visit www.level3.com or get to know us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Website Access to Company Information
Level 3 maintains a corporate website at www.level3.com, and you can find additional information about the company through the Investors pages on that website at http://investors.level3.com/investor-relations/default.aspx.  Level 3 uses its website as a channel of distribution of important information about the company. Level 3 routinely posts financial and other important information regarding the company and its business, financial condition and operations on the Investor Relations web pages.

Visitors to the Investors Relations web pages can view and print copies of Level 3's SEC filings, including periodic and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, as soon as reasonably practicable after those filings are made with the SEC.

Copies of the charters for each of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Governance committees of Level 3's Board of Directors, its Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics, press releases and analysts and investor conference presentations are all available through the Investor Relations web pages.

Please note that the information contained on any of Level 3's web sites is not incorporated by reference in, or considered to be a part of, any document unless expressly incorporated by reference in that document.

The information contained under the caption "About Hexcel" has been provided by Hexcel, 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 Global Crossing acquisition or otherwise realize the anticipated benefits thereof; manage risks associated with continued uncertainty in the global economy; 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; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage the future expansion or adaptation of its network to remain competitive; 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.