Level 3 Communications (Omaha, NE) has taken several more steps toward getting its new Internet

Level 3 Communications (Omaha, NE) has taken several more steps toward getting its new Internet protocol (IP) fiber network in place. The company has signed a $165-million capacity lease agreement with Frontier Corp. (Rochester, NY) for access to 8300 route-mi of OC-12 (622-Mbit/sec) fiber on Frontier`s network over the next five years. The leased links connect 15 cities. The carrier start-up also announced it has signed an agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad Co. for the use of approximately 7800 mi of rights-of-way along the latter`s railroad track, primarily west of the Mississippi River. The rights-of-way will enable the connection of 25 cities. Finally, Level 3 has also announced the signing of a $185-million definitive merger agreement with xcom Technologies, a holding of Battery Ventures (Wellesley, MA). xcom Technologies is a competitive local exchange carrier.