Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications Internet Service

Level 3 Communications was founded in 1985 as a long-distance telephone company and has evolved into an internet service provider (ISP) that offers a range of communications services, including network and internet services, colocation service, media services, and voice services. Level 3 is available in 46 of the 50 states in the United States. Level 3 also provides service to Western Europe, South America, and some areas within Asia.
Level 3's network is one of the largest IP transit networks in North America and Europe. It was designed to maximize coverage, performance, flexibility, and scalability. Level 3 offers more long-haul and metro route options than other providers.
Level 3 is a primary provider of internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers. Five of the six largest ISPs in the United States use Level 3's network.
Level 3 is a Tier 3 provider, which means it focuses on local business and consumer market conditions. It provides local access to the internet for end customers through Fiber Internet, DSL Internet and Copper Internet.
Fiber Internet is a broadband connection that uses fiber-optic cables to deliver internet access. Fiber internet can provide speeds of up to 100 Gbps, which, for perspective, is about 200 times faster than a 50 Mbps broadband connection. This type of connection uses thin glass or plastic fibers to transmit data as beams of light pulsed in a pattern. The thin fibers reduce light reflections, enabling signals to travel a longer distance and give you faster speed. Fiber internet is also more reliable than other internet connection types, such as cable internet. But the narrowness and slight weight of the fiber optic cable means that it’s delicate and can be damaged by construction mishaps, wildlife, radiation, or chemicals.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a type of internet connection that uses the voice frequency of telephone lines to send and receive internet data and traffic. DSL provides high-speed internet access without tying up the phone lines, as dial-up internet connections do. DSL is one of several types of broadband internet connections, which also include fiber and cable. DSL is typically the slowest of the three main broadband options. You can tell if you have DSL internet by looking at your modem and the physical cable connections. If your modem is plugged into a phone jack, you have DSL Internet. If your modem is connected to the wall by a round coaxial cable, you have Cable Internet.
Although DSL is still one of the most widely available types of internet service in the United States, its days are numbered. Most DSL providers are pivoting toward faster and more reliable technologies like fiber and many are trying aggressively to get their current customers to switch.
Copper internet uses copper cables to send electrical signals. Copper cables are typically at least two millimeters in diameter. Copper internet is the standard connection type that has been used historically. Copper internet provides fast and reliable connections. It can transmit signals over long distances with minimal signal loss. Copper internet is best suited for rural areas within a limited distance range.
Copper wires have a lower bandwidth than fiber optic cables, which means they can carry less data at slower speeds. Copper wires are also more susceptible to signal loss and degradation over long distances. On average, a copper-based internet connection provides speeds of up to 300 Mbps. That doesn’t mean you will always get those speeds because there are many factors, including your own equipment, that can impact results.
CenturyLink acquired Level 3 Communications in a $34 billion deal that closed on November 1, 2017. The deal created a global network services company with a large fiber-rich network. As part of the merger, Level 3 stockholders received $26.50 per share in cash and 1.4286 shares of CenturyLink stock for each Level 3 share they owned. CenturyLink shareholders own about 51 percent of the post-merger company.