Level 3 to provide wavelength service to Asian carrier REACH

Level 3 Communications Inc. has signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement to provide optical wavelength services to REACH, one of Asia's largest international carriers.

REACH has agreed to purchase a 10-Gbit/sec wavelength ring from Level 3 linking Los Angeles and San Jose with the Japan-U.S. cable landing station outside San Luis Obispo, CA. The Japan-U.S. cable is a high-capacity undersea cable system connecting the mainland United States with Hawaii and Japan. REACH will use the wavelength from Level 3 to enhance communications services it currently provides to its customers in both Asia and North America.

"REACH is one of the leading international communications companies serving the Asia-Pacific region," asserts Glenn Russo, senior vice president of transport services for Level 3. "This agreement highlights the value and flexibility of our wavelength service, which allows international carriers like REACH to expand their out-of-region footprint quickly and efficiently by using the Level 3 network, thereby avoiding unnecessary investment in their own facilities-based network infrastructure."

With Level 3's Link Global Wavelength service, companies with large bandwidth needs can purchase single or multiple wavelengths on any of Level 3's North American, transatlantic, or European network routes. Level 3 terminates the wavelengths at on-net customer facilities, where customers can interconnect with the wavelength using their existing SONET, IP, or ATM equipment, thereby reducing network costs shortening time to market, and maintaining network control, say company representatives.

Level 3 expects to activate wavelength segments for REACH using ONTAP, Level 3'sU proprietary online customer network management and service provisioning system.

For more information about Level 3 (Broomfield, CO), visit the company's Web site at www.Level3.com.