Level 3 Delivers Live Video of Obama Inauguration for Sky News

Broomfield, Colorado (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Historic Event Yields Level 3 Internet Network Traffic Record

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT) today announced that
the company delivered live television broadcast video and online
streaming of Barack Obama's presidential inauguration ceremony for
Sky News on January 20. The historic event marked a number of
milestones, including the first live simulcast for Level 3 in Europe
and the largest one-day spike in global Internet network traffic for
Level 3.

"We wanted to capture the magic and scale of the event, including
the speech and the massive anticipated audience around the globe for
this historic occasion," said Steve Bennedik, head of technology for
Sky News. "We did this by offering, for the first time, the highest
quality pictures, both for those watching in HD on their televisions
and also for those watching Sky News' live streaming online. We
wanted viewers to feel that they were amongst the crowds."

Level 3 transported the live news feed over trans-Atlantic
fiber-optic cable on the Level 3 network from Washington DC to its
facilities in London, where the feed formed part of the
high-definition (HD) television coverage delivered by Sky News. Level
3 also delivered live online streaming of the event for global
viewing at www.skynews.com. Level 3 partnered with Move Networks to
encode the online video in HD for this event.

"Level 3's network offered Sky News viewers with the kind of
high-quality video that placed them on the steps of the U.S. capitol
for this historic event," said James Heard, president of Level 3's
European Markets Group. "For the inauguration, Level 3 provided live
HD video for both television and online viewing - a first for Level 3
in Europe - contributing to record global traffic across our network
for the day."

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 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.

ots Originaltext: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Media, Europe, Hannah Britt, +44-207-954-2128, or North America, Skip
Thurman, +1-720-888-2292, or Investors, Mark Stoutenberg,
+1-720-888-2518, all of Level 3 Communications, Inc. Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990721/LVLTLOGO