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Uncompressed Inter-State HD-SDI Feed Over IP

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct 08, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) has announced that it is delivering Denver Broncos home games from Invesco Field in Denver to the game's broadcaster using an uncompressed high-definition (HD) video feed. Level 3 delivers the signal entirely on its fiber-optic network and is the first in the broadcast industry to enable end-to-end delivery of uncompressed HD video.

By leveraging its IP network - and the fiber-optic connection into Invesco Field that Level 3 installed to deliver the 2008 Democratic National Convention - Level 3 is delivering an uncompressed 1.5 Gigabit per second feed from Denver to the broadcast studio of the network carrying the game. Typically, broadcasters take the feed from the cameras at a given sporting event and send it to a production truck; from there the feed is compressed and delivered to the broadcast studio (which Level 3 also will continue to deliver throughout the season while the higher bandwidth feed is being evaluated).

Level 3 has been a proven thought leader and technology innovator since it built its IP network and was a key participant in creating the High Bit Rate Audio Visual IP (HBRAV-IP) standard that is driving the future of uncompressed HD delivery. The standard is being developed by the Video Services Forum, an international association composed of service providers, users and manufacturers dedicated to interoperability, quality metrics and education for video networking technologies.

"When you compress and uncompress a signal the quality becomes degraded, if only slightly; however, an uncompressed video feed maintains the integrity of a signal and allows broadcasters to deliver the highest quality picture possible," said Mark Taylor, vice president of product and strategy for Level 3's Content Markets Group. "Our goal is to keep thinking about what's on the horizon in terms of delivering the best possible service that will support the next generation of video, and this trial, as well as our work in developing an industry standard to deliver IP video, reflect that goal."

Quality content delivered
Leveraging one of the most-connected IP networks in the world and a full suite of content delivery network and broadcast-delivery technologies, Level 3 is uniquely positioned to provide true end-to-end solutions that enable content delivery from "creation to consumption." Level 3 brings a proven track record of media distribution services and serves the nation's top broadcast outlets and many of the Internet's top online properties. In its ongoing tradition of supporting the most watched - both online and broadcast - sporting events in the world, a sample of the events Level 3 has delivered this year to various audiences includes the Super Bowl, the Tour de France, the IAAF World Athletics (Track & Field) Championships, World Championship Swimming, and the French Open.

About Level 3 CommunicationsLevel 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, LLC.All Rights Reserved.Level 3, Level 3 Communications and the Level 3 Communications Logoare either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of 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 names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking StatementSome 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 current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy; disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3's ability to obtain additional financing; as well as the company's ability to: successfully integrate acquisitions; increase the volume of traffic on the network; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; develop effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; 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.