CityFibre announces agreement with Level 3 to enable gigabit-speed dedicated Internet services

Services expected to deliver transformational benefits to businesses across UK towns and cities, boosting decentralised economic development

CityFibre today announced an agreement with Level 3 Communications that will enable it to launch dedicated gigabit-speed Internet services over its pure fibre networks throughout the United Kingdom.

As part of the agreement, CityFibre will connect its next-generation metropolitan fibre networks to Level 3’s global IP network, offering CityFibre customers access to Level 3’s world-class High-Speed IP Service. Customers connected to the network will receive the ultimate in enterprise-grade connectivity - a dedicated symmetrical gigabit-speed Internet service, with virtually limitless capacity and incredibly low latency.

CityFibre focuses on deploying fibre-based infrastructure and services to the UK’s secondary cities and towns, supporting decentralised economic development. Its Internet Leased Lines will enable businesses to greatly increase their productivity and competitiveness by exploiting smarter and more efficient working methods, such as cloud-computing, advanced teleconferencing, real-time communications and voice over IP (VoIP). These services will transform workplaces, increasing employee efficiency and job satisfaction.

“Level 3 Communications owns and operates one of the largest IP networks in the industry, and we’re pleased to have CityFibre as a customer,” said James Heard, Level 3 regional president of EMEA. “Our network has more than 6.0 terabytes per second of global peering capacity and the ability to serve customers in more than 500 markets in 55 countries. Our leadership in providing enterprise-grade Internet services and a best-of-breed IP service is ideal to power the Internet provisioning over CityFibre’s pure fibre networks.”

Internet Leased Lines will be rolled-out over the next 12 months, with York being selected as the launch city. York has one of the most resilient economies in the North, home to world-class science, technology and creative businesses, and a tourist industry that attracts over 7 million visitors a year. CityFibre already operates an extensive fibre network in the city and recently announced that a significant new data centre was to locate there as a result of the high-quality fibre network.

CityFibre is working with Level 3 to select the next cities in line for launch, extending the service further.

Greg Mesch, chief executive officer at CityFibre commented: “We are delighted to announce this agreement with Level 3. Its world-class IP service, combined with our future-proofed metropolitan fibre networks make a very powerful combination. We are excited about the huge benefits that these services will bring to businesses throughout the country.

“It is no surprise that cities around the world are seeing the deployment of pure fibre networks delivering gigabit services. Pure fibre is the future of business connectivity, and we are very pleased to be working with Level 3 to make this a reality in the UK."

ENDS

CityFibre Media Contact: Maggie Zaboura Zaboura Consultancy Ltd T. 020 7297 3371 E. maggie@zaboura.com

About CityFibre CityFibre (www.cityfibre.com) is one of the UK’s leading fibre optic infrastructure providers. By building dedicated fibre optic networks for the public and private sectors, we empower data-hungry users throughout the country, by unleashing unlimited speeds on future-proofed technology.

Our transformational fibre infrastructure projects comprise point-to-point connections, metro rings and Fibre-to-the-Premises networks that make possible Next Generation Access and gigabit level services direct to local authorities, businesses and homes.

CityFibre manages over 100 private fibre projects and seven separate metropolitan fibre rings under long-term contracts with local authorities, police forces, healthcare organisations and universities. With almost 30,000km of fibre in the ground, connecting more than 350 sites and data centres across the UK, we are the country’s largest independent provider of fibre in secondary cities.

In Bournemouth, CityFibre owns the largest FTTH project in the UK. With over 21,000 homes in marketing now, the network enables service providers to deliver unprecedented superfast broadband with speeds of up to one gigabit per second.

About Level 3 Communications Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) provides local, national and global communications services to enterprise, government and carrier customers. Level 3’s comprehensive portfolio of secure, managed solutions includes fiber and infrastructure solutions; IP-based voice and data communications; wide-area Ethernet services; video and content distribution; data center and cloud-based solutions. Level 3 serves customers in more than 500 markets in 55 countries over a global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents and connected by extensive undersea facilities. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. For more information, visit www.level3.com.

Website Access to Company Information Level 3 maintains a corporate website at www.level3.com, and you can find additional information about the company through the Investors pages on that website at http://investors.level3.com/investor-relations/default.aspx. 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; maintain and increase traffic on its network; develop and maintain effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; avert the breach of its network and computer system security measures; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage the future expansion or adaptation of its network to remain competitive; manage continued or accelerated decreases in market pricing for communications services; 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.