Level 3 to Install New Generation of Corning Optical Fibre in Multi-Conduit U.S. Network - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[freakman]

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Aug 24, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc., (Nasdaq:LVLT) today announced
it will deploy a new generation of Corning Incorporated `s (NYSE:GLW) LEAF(R) optical fiber throughout its U.S. inter- city network
in a move that will significantly increase the network`s capacity and cost efficiency. Level 3 will be the first company to deploy this
evolutionary fiber, which will better enable emerging high speed, long reach transport systems. Level 3 has signed a letter of intent
to buy more than two million cabled fiber kilometers of third-generation LEAF fiber from Corning.

Level 3 plans to begin installing the new generation of fiber in the second conduit of the network in the first quarter of 2001 and
expects to be substantially complete by the end of the year. Corning Cable Systems, a wholly owned Corning subsidiary, will
continue to provide the cable for all of the LEAF fiber required for this next stage of network development.

"We are particularly pleased to announce the deployment of a new generation of LEAF fiber in our multi-conduit network," said
Kevin O`Hara, Level 3 president and chief operating officer. "This decision is driven not only by improving technology but by
customer demand. Our unique multi-conduit network allows both us and our customers to take advantage of ongoing improvements
in optical fiber technology. This upgradable network design enables rapid responses to changes in the marketplace and allows Level
3 to deploy new fiber technologies with unprecedented and unequaled speed."

Jack Waters, Level 3 chief technology officer, said the agreement with Corning underscores a fundamental part of the Level 3
business plan. "Our goal is to maintain a significant cost advantage for bandwidth services," Waters said. "We will achieve this by
installing new generations of fiber at the optimum rate. By continuously adopting new technologies, we can lower the price of
bandwidth services."

"Level 3 was Corning`s first customer for the earlier generations of LEAF fiber, and today`s announcement further underscores the
strong relationship between Level 3 and Corning," said Wendell Weeks, Corning`s executive vice president, Optical
Communications. "Level 3 has been an integral part of our growth plan from the beginning, and they will continue to be in the future.
Our companies will continue working together on the development and deployment of future fiber technology in order to optimize key
network factors such as bit rate, the available number of light wavelengths and the spacing of regeneration electronics in a way that
achieves the lowest unit cost."

Alan Eusden, Corning vice president and general manager, Optical Fiber, said, "The new generation of LEAF fiber will offer a
polarization mode dispersion (PMD) specification that will be improved by 50 percent over the previous version. The resulting fiber
performance will enable Level 3 to significantly increase the transmission distance and data rates of their long haul network, while
reducing the need for PMD compensation or signal regeneration."

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is a global communications and information services company offering a wide selection of IP-based services
including broadband transport, colocation services, submarine transmission services and the industry`s first Softswitch* based
services. Level 3 offers services primarily to Web-centric companies that deliver their services over the Level 3 Network. The Level 3
Network will include metropolitan networks in 56 U.S. markets and 21 international markets connected by an approximately 16,000
mile U.S. inter-city (long-distance) network, an approximately 4,750 mile European inter-city network, both transpacific and
transatlantic undersea cables and 6.5 million square feet of gateway and technical space. Level 3 expects to substantially complete
the U.S. and first two rings of the European inter-city network by the fourth quarter of 2000. Level 3 currently offers broadband
infrastructure services in 38 U.S. markets and five European markets. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.

About Corning

Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest-growing markets of
the world`s economy. Corning manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic products for the telecommunications industry; and
high-performance displays and components for television and other communications-related industries. The company also uses
advanced materials to manufacture products for scientific, semiconductor and environmental markets. Corning`s revenues in 1999
were $4.7 billion. For more information about Corning`s latest generation of LEAF optical fiber, visit
www.corningfiber.com/info/leaf_fiber_pmd.

(*Softswitches are advanced software based switching systems that enable Level 3 to provide services combining the best features
of the Internet and traditional telephone networks.)

[NambaWan]

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[Otto2]

Wäre FLAG Telecom nicht interessanter als Level 3, da noch nicht so hoch bewertet?

Otto2