New Agreement Brings Level 3's Premium High-Speed IP Services to Djibouti Telecom Customers

LONDON, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

-- Joint point-of-presence to be Level 3's first in Africa

-- Arrangement expected to enhance Internet experience, adoption in region as Djibouti Telecom gains access to Level 3's global network

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) today announced a contract with Djibouti Telecom, a leading telecommunications company in Djibouti, East Africa, establishing an IP node in Djibouti - Level 3's first point-of-presence planned for Africa - in order to provide IP services to Djibouti Telecom's wholesale and enterprise customers across the region. As a result of the arrangement, Djibouti Telecom will offer full IP transit service, with hosted international content, to its customers.

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Level 3's high-speed IP solution, coupled with Djibouti Telecom's regional expertise in providing Internet services, will offer customers an enhanced service experience at an affordable price, potentially helping to broaden Internet use in the region.

Level 3 was selected because of its expertise and reputation as a global, scalable and reliable IP services provider. In addition to enabling Djibouti Telecom to offer Level 3's IP services, the arrangement also gives Level 3 the ability to localize online content in region, allowing it to more efficiently serve its global customers. Services will commence in the third quarter of 2012.

"The benefits of this arrangement are many and far-reaching," said James Heard, regional president of EMEA for Level 3. "For the people of Djibouti and the region, it improves the performance of the Internet -- a critical tool to success in today's global market; for Djibouti Telecom, it improves their global reach; and for Level 3, it increases our presence in the African market, which we see as a major growth market with substantial unmet demand."

"It was very important to us to work with Level 3 to offer the most efficient, cost effective and future-proof IP services to meet Africa's soaring demands, both now and in the future," said Abdourahman Mohamed Hassan, General Manager of Djibouti Telecom. "It will also enable us to position ourselves in Eastern and Southern Africa, in the IP business. In five years' time, we want to leverage our privileged geographical position as the East African countries gateway to the rest of the world."

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

About Djibouti Telecom

Established in September 1999 and the sole provider of telecommunication services in Djibouti, Djibouti Telecom offers of a full range of services from fixed, wireless services (GSM, CDMA), corporate and wholesale IP/DATA to ADSL networks.

With its participation and ownership in number of submarine cable systems, Djibouti Telecom grows as a strong regional hub that connects east Africa with major telecommunications hubs in Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia. Its investment consists of five submarine cable systems (SeaMeWe3, Aden-Djibouti, Eassy, Seacom, EIG) with landing stations in Djibouti providing excellent diversity.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a premier global provider of IP-based communications services to enterprise, content, government and wholesale customers. Over its reliable, scalable and secure network, Level 3 delivers integrated IP solutions, including converged, data, voice, video and managed solutions to help enable customers' growth and efficiency. Level 3 operates a unique global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents in more than 45 countries, connected by extensive undersea facilities. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.level3.com.

Website Access to Company Information

Level 3 maintains a corporate website at http://www.level3.com, and you can find additional information about the company through the Investors pages on that website at http:// http://lvlt.client.shareholder.com/.  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.

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; obtain additional financing, particularly in the event of disruptions in the financial markets; manage continued or accelerated decreases in market pricing for communications services; maintain and increase traffic on its network; develop and maintain effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; adapt to rapid technological changes that could adversely affect the company's competitiveness; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; 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.

   
    Contact Information
   
    Media:                           Investors:
    Monica Martinez                  Mark Stoutenberg
    +1-720-888-3991                  +1-720-888-2518
    Monica.Martinez@Level3.com       Mark.Stoutenberg@Level3.com
   
    UK/EMEA Media:
    Nigel Brown
    +44-791-742-6664
    Nigel.Brown@Level3.com