Level 3 expands network capacity in Latin America

Level 3 Communications, Inc., (NYSE: LVLT) says it has expanded and upgraded its fiber-optic network infrastructure in Latin America to meet growing demand for integrated IP services, particularly in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.

According to TeleGeography estimates, international Internet traffic growth in Latin America is doubling every two years, which makes Latin America one of the fastest growing regions in the world.

"Level 3 is committed to expanding its network in the main cities of Latin America where it sees significant opportunities for growth, and we are dedicated to helping our customers improve their business performance," said Hector Alonso, Level 3's regional president for Latin America. "Not only does Level 3 have the network infrastructure to support these increasing market demands, but it also offers a comprehensive portfolio of business communications services that can help enhance the efficiency of our customers."

In Argentina, Level 3 expanded its Metro Ethernet Network Buenos Aires, which included upgrades to some of the fiber-optic rings in the “macro/microcenter.”

In Brazil, the network services provider expanded its national backbone, and a new metro network route has been deployed in Porto Alegre, connecting the most important business centers in the city. Additionally, in Rio de Janeiro, the capacity of the network has been enhanced to meet increasing demands in the Botafogo and Barra neighborhoods. Fiber paths in the Curitiba-Sao Paulo-Rio de Janeiro route have also been upgraded, enabling greater availability and stability of the network. New submarine capacity has been added to the Sao Paulo-Rio de Janeiro route, providing new IP capacity connecting Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to important hubs in the U.S. and Europe.

In Colombia, responding to increasing demand and economic growth, Level 3 has extended its network coverage, although it didn’t specify where.

In Venezuela, the new urban areas of Chuao and La Salle have been included in the metro network plan with an extensive deployment of fiber-optic cable and equipment, expanding the capacity of Gateway La Urbina, the main site in Caracas.

Level 3 says it now owns fiber networks on three continents in more than 55 countries and connected by extensive undersea facilities with more than 160,000 km (100,000 miles) of routes between cities, 48,000 km (30,000 miles) of metropolitan routes, 56,000 km (35,000 miles) of routes underwater, and over 500 on-net markets.

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