AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded a contract to supply broadband communications services to SURFnet, the Dutch ISP.

Level 3 is now providing SURFnet with dedicated Internet access in Amsterdam and wavelengths services between Europe and North America. Kees Neggers, managing director of SURFnet commented, "We are very glad that we have been able to get a service provider that could deliver the complete package of services at such extremely short notice, such that SURFnet's service to its clients is guaranteed and of top quality."

SURFnet is the national computer network for higher education and research in The Netherlands. It connects the networks of universities, colleges, research centres, academic hospitals and scientific libraries to one another and to other networks in Europe and the rest of the world.

In response to numerous inquiries Level 3 has received from concerned companies, Level 3 has established a dedicated customer support organization to assist customers concerned with potential disruptions in service in Europe.

"Within hours of Level 3 and SURFnet signing the contract Internet access was turned up. The wavelength services are being provisioned in a matter of days," said Brady Rafuse, president for Level 3 in Europe. "It is a real tribute to our network, the quality of service that we are able to offer and to our people that we have been able to respond to customer requests so rapidly over the last few days."

Level 3 currently offers service in nine major European markets and is expanding to eight additional markets across Western Europe in 2002. The new markets are Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Stockholm and Zurich, and the German cities of Cologne, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. Once the expansion is complete, Level 3 will be able to deliver services to 17 of the top markets on the continent.

Level 3's existing, two-ring network in Europe spans 3,600 route miles. It connects London, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris and the German cities of Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. The company also operates multi-conduit metropolitan networks in all nine markets. Level 3 offers a range of communications services targeted toward the world's top 300 bandwidth customers, including wavelengths, private line, dark fiber, managed modem and IP services. Level 3's current customers include companies such as America Online, BT, Cable & Wireless, COLT Telecom Group, France Telecom and Microsoft.

About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 is an international communications and information services company offering a wide selection of services including IP services, broadband transport, colocation services and the industry's first Softswitch based services. The company offers information services through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, (i)Structure and Corporate Software. (i)Structure is an Application Infrastructure Provider that provides managed IT infrastructure services and enables businesses to outsource IT operations. Corporate Software helps Fortune 500 companies acquire, implement, and manage software.

Forward Looking Statement
Some of the statements made by Level 3 in this press release are forward-looking in nature. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Level 3 believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to: changes in the overall economy relating to, among other things, the September 11 attacks and subsequent events, substantial capital requirements; development of effective internal processes and systems; the ability to attract and retain high quality employees; technology; the number and size of competitors in its markets; law and regulatory policy; and the mix of products and services offered in the company's target markets. 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 release should be evaluated in light of these important factors.

SOURCE: Level 3 Communications, Inc.