BROOMFIELD, Colorado, December 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- European Customers Gain Access to Full Range of Broadcast Video Services

- 15 Percent Annual Increase in Vyvx Services Traffic Reported Through 2008

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT) today announced that the company has expanded its Vyvx services platform to include broadcast video distribution in Europe. The expansion enables more efficient distribution of North American broadcast programming to Europe and provides European customers access to broadcast video delivery over the Level 3 network.

As one of the largest and most connected IP networks in the world, Level 3 is now capitalizing on the reach of our network to expand the Vyvx services platform, said Grant van Rooyen, president of Level 3's Content Markets Group. This expansion builds on our proven track record of performance in the broadcast industry and provides our customers with the comprehensive service portfolio to continue expanding their global broadcast distribution.

The expansion of the Vyvx services platform to Europe includes new point-of-presence (POP) facilities at the Level 3 gateway in London. New digital video encoding and publishing equipment at the London POP facilitates fiber-based transmission of high-quality, broadcast video in Europe. Access to fiber-based delivery augments Level 3's existing capabilities to support broadcast video downlinks to satellite facilities across Europe. With these enhanced capabilities, Level 3 now offers the full range of Vyvx broadcast video services in Europe that have been available to broadcast customers in North America.

As part of this expansion of Vyvx services to Europe, Level 3 also added satellite downlink capabilities in Berlin. These new capabilities improve end-to-end monitoring of video quality for broadcast traffic delivered via satellite. Level 3 now operates four satellite facilities: Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles and Berlin.

For nearly 20 years, Level 3 Vyvx services have enabled fiber-based transmission of broadcast video for major television networks, professional sport leagues and other live events, such as the presidential inauguration, debates and conventions, as well annual awards shows for the entertainment industry. Vyvx services transport high-definition (HD) and standard-definition video over the Level 3 network either between customer facilities or to satellite teleports.

Vyvx also carries live video signals to broadcast encoding centers on the Level 3 network. These centers format broadcast content for online video streaming and on-demand viewing that is enabled by the Level 3 content delivery network (CDN).

In 2008, Level 3 Vyvx services covered more than 17,000 entertainment, broadcast and sporting events in North America with over 158 million minutes of video traffic, an approximate 15 percent increase over 2007. The company averages more than 15,000 fiber and satellite reservations per month of total video broadcast traffic over the Level 3 network.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.Level3.com.

Level 3 Communications, Level 3, the red 3D brackets, Vyvx and the Level 3 Communications logo are service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Level 3 services are provided by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Any other service, product or company names recited herein are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statement

Some of the statements made in this press release are forward looking in nature. These statements 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. The most 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 acquisitions; increase the volume of traffic on the network; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; and meet all of the terms and conditions of 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.

media, Kimberly Tulp, +1-720-888-3675, or Jennifer Daumler, +1-720-888-3356, or investors, Mark Stoutenberg, +1-720-888-2518, or Valerie Finberg, +1-720-888-2501, all of Level 3 Communications, Inc.