BROOMFIELD, Colorado, January 29 /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.

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