BROOMFIELD, Colo., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) today announced it has been honored by ATLANTIC-ACM as one of two winners of the Carrier Excellence Data Value Award, based on the findings of the ATLANTIC-ACM 2012 Global Wholesale Report Card. ATLANTIC-ACM, a leading telecommunications research consultancy, announced the awards during the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) 2012 conference in Honolulu earlier today.

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This year marks the 11th edition of ATLANTIC-ACM's Global Wholesale Report Card, a market-wide customer feedback study built from more than 1,300 carrier ratings from 300 global wholesale customers that has become a critical benchmarking survey in the competitive global service provider marketplace. The survey was conducted from mid-October to mid-December 2011, and was sent to more than 10,000 global wholesale customers – a customer list built from ATLANTIC-ACM's internal database as well as customer lists from some of the leading global wholesale providers.

"Level 3's very competitive score in data value translates into a highly attractive value proposition for the global wholesale market," said Fedor Smith, president of ATLANTIC-ACM. "This survey finding is a testament to Level 3's ability to deliver high quality services while remaining price competitive."

The Carrier Excellence Data Value Award is based on the combined average scores across product quality and product price competitiveness for the following data products:

• International Ethernet Direct/Dedicated Internet Access
• International Legacy Direct/Dedicated Internet Access
• International IP WAN
• International Transport Services Low Capacity (DS-n, E-n and J-n)
• International Transport Services High Capacity (STM-n, OC-n, and Wavelengths)
• International Ethernet Transport Services (Point-to-Point and Multipoint)

"We're honored to receive this industry distinction, and are very appreciative of the recognition customers have given us for our commitment to providing them with the highest possible level of customer experience," said Greg Spraetz, Level 3's senior vice president, Wholesale Sales. "This award proves that we're placing our emphasis in the right areas – providing a differentiated capability and consistently higher levels of customer satisfaction in the global wholesale market."

For more information on Level 3's advanced network and service offerings, visit www.level3.com.

About ATLANTIC-ACM
Boston-based ATLANTIC-ACM is a leading provider of strategic research and consulting services serving the telecommunications and information industries. In addition to producing the industry's principal benchmarking, sizing and opportunity studies, the company assists clients in evaluating telecommunications opportunities for successful investment, market entry and long-term planning. For more information, visit ATLANTIC-ACM's website at www.atlantic-acm.com.

About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a premier global provider of IP-based communications services to enterprise, content, government and wholesale customers. Over its reliable, scalable and secure network, Level 3 delivers integrated IP solutions, including converged, data, voice, video and managed solutions to help enable customers' growth and efficiency. Level 3 operates a unique global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents in more than 45 countries, connected by extensive undersea facilities. For more information, visit www.level3.com.

© Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications, Level (3), Think Ahead, the Level 3 Logo and the Level 3 Think Ahead logo are 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.  Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. 

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:// http://lvlt.client.shareholder.com/.  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 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 the Global Crossing acquisition, the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy; a discontinuation of the development and expansion of the Internet as a communications medium and marketplace for the distribution and consumption of data and video; and disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3's ability to obtain additional financing.  Additional factors include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to:  increase and maintain the volume of traffic on its network; develop effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; adapt to rapid technological changes that lead to further competition; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; successfully integrate future acquisitions; 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.

SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc.