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.