Level 3 Connects Up BATS, IPNETZONE, Talks Network Neutrality

Level 3 Communications (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) has had three PRs this week:  a statement on the Verizon/Google proposal, a contract expansion with IPNETZONE, and connectivity into BATS Europe.

Regarding the Verizon/Google proposal, Level 3 was ‘encouraged’ that the two were able to find agreement on as much as they did, but nevertheless was doubtful that allowing last mile access providers to create paid priority data services was a good idea.  No big surprise there, or anywhere in the statement really.  Mainly I think the network operator and those like them are looking for resolution to all this, whatever form it might take.  Uncertainty itself is a barrier to the kind of bandwidth growth they’d like to see, but honestly I don’t see real progress on the horizon yet.

Over in Europe, Level 3 will be providing metro, intercity, and transatlantic connectivity directly into BATS Europe, which operates a rapidly growing pan-European Multilateral Trading Facility.  This will enable Level 3 to offer their financial customers in Europe a broader set of low latency solutions.  Of all the players in the low latency bandwidth game right now, Level 3 seems to be attacking on the most fronts.

They also expanded their relationship with the independent ISP IPNETZONE.  Level 3 was already providing them with connectivity to crucial data centers, but will now be adding direct internet access and point-to-point transport services for the ISP’s NY/NJ customers.  Such mid-market customers continue to be an area of focus for the company, as they continue to battle churn and return to sustained top line growth.

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Categories: Government Regulations · Low Latency · Metro fiber