Süddeutsche Zeitung Selects Level 3's Content Delivery Network to Support Rapid Online Growth

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Level 3 to Deliver Caching and Download Services to One of
Germany's Leading National Newspaper Portals

Level 3 Communications' European Markets Group today announced
that it has been selected to provide content delivery services to
Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of Germany's leading national newspapers.
Level 3's content delivery network (CDN) will be used to deliver all
video and pictures for the newspaper's Web portal at
http://www.sueddeutsche.de.

Under the terms of this new agreement, Level 3 will deliver
caching and download services to support ongoing demand growth at
http://www.sueddeutsche.de. Powered by extensive content delivery
capabilities and patented technology, these services will enable the
Web portal to deliver enhanced features and content quality for
online viewers.

The Web portal serves as the primary online distribution channel
for the newspaper with over 4.6 million page impressions per day. The
portal includes a wide variety of news articles, supported by video
and other content-rich features. Level 3 caching and download
services will replace proprietary technology previously developed by
the newspaper. These services will allow for faster delivery of
content to a larger audience and also provide the ability to scale
rapidly in response to sudden spikes in online demand.

"We are seeing a huge increase in demand for rich media from our
Web site and need an infrastructure in place that can deliver this
content in a cost effective and scalable way," said Rainer Kerl,
technical director of Süddeutsche Zeitung. "We are very confident
that Level 3's CDN platform will deliver what we need and now feel
comfortable that we have mitigated the risk associated with large and
unexpected traffic loads -- a hazard of operating in the news
sector."

Level 3 operates one of the world's leading content delivery
networks, allowing Web sites, portals and other companies to deliver
high quality digital content over the Internet without the need to
invest in capital intensive and depreciating Web hosting
infrastructure. Consumers today expect a richer online experience.
Delivering content via Web portals, such as
http://www.sueddeutsche.de, that use a CDN platform offers both cost
efficiencies to the content owner and an exceptional end-user
experience to the consumer.

"Süddeutsche Zeitung operates in a content hungry marketplace
that drives large volumes of news and associated rich media content
on the portal at any given time," said James Heard, president of
Level 3's European Markets Group. "Level 3's CDN brings advanced
technology and network intelligence to ensure that content on
http://www.sueddeutsche.de is delivered to meet quality demands,
address traffic surges, and scale for long-term growth in both
traffic and content volume. We are pleased to support the continued
online growth of one of Germany's largest newspapers."

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 http://www.Level3.com.

Level 3 Communications, Level 3, the red 3D brackets and the
Level 3 Communications logo are registered 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.

Web site: http://www.level3.com
http://www.sueddeutsche.de

Rückfragehinweis:
Media, Hannah Britt, +44-207-954-2128, or Kimberly Tulp,
+1-720-888-3675, or Investors, Valerie Finberg, +1-720-888-2501, or
Mark Stoutenberg, +1-720-888-2518, all of Level 3 Communications;
Photo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990721/LVLTLOGO, AP Archive:
http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk, [email protected]

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