Level 3 Communications Inc. is launching the next phase of its voice strategy in the U.S. and Europe, which include the introduction of two new residential VoIP offers.
The company's new residential VoIP services, to be formally unveiled later this month, will be offered in more than 300 markets across the U.S. by year's end. The services will allow U.S. cable operators, ISPs and enhanced service providers to offer IP-based local and long-distance communications services to consumers with broadband connections. The services will offer national coverage, enable local number portability, and will meet 911 and E911 interconnection standards across the U.S.
Level 3 plans to introduce voice services in Europe during the second half of 2004.
"Over the course of the last several quarters, we have successfully launched a variety of IP-based voice services, all of which address large existing voice markets and which exploit the inherent technological advantages of Level 3's network," says James Q. Crowe, CEO of Level 3.
"Following the introduction of these residential VoIP services, Level 3 will have what we believe is the broadest suite of VoIP services in our industry,” he says. “Demand for VoIP is growing, as broadband penetration rates rise and adoption rates increase among businesses and consumers. Our history as a VoIP pioneer, combined with the scope of our offerings and our wholesale strategy, position Level 3 well to capitalize on this trend."
Level 3's VoIP services leverage the company's extensive softswitch platform -- the largest in the world, which has carried more than 300 billion minutes of voice and data calls since 1999. In addition to the new residential services, Level 3 also offers services to large, mall and medium businesses as well as on a wholesale basis to other service providers and resellers.
