Dark Fiber

Group Managing Editor, TMCnet

Level 3 Communications (News - Alert), Inc., a leading provider of long haul fiber optic network services for carriers and enterprises, has increased its network presence in Poland with the establishment of a new fiber route extending from Berlin through to Poznan and onwards to Warsaw.

With the laying if this dark fiber, Level 3 can now seamlessly deliver transport as well as Internet Protocol (IP) services from Warsaw and Poznan to Western Europe and markets across North America. What’s more, the company’s network now serves 46 of the largest markets in Europe.

One of the first companies to benefit from this project is Vectra, the second largest cable provider in Poland. The company delivers triple play services – including VoIP and HD television – to about 740,000 customers in 155 towns and cities.

The expansion of the Level 3 network in Poland means Vectra can now acquire all its high speed IP and transport services from a single provider. Additionally, Vectra gains access to key Internet exchange points across Europe and to Level 3's extensive network, providing a richer Internet experience to end users.

“The quality of service we've received from Level 3 has been impressive,” said Bartlomiej Irzynski, CTO for Vectra S.A., in a release. “Our experience to date and the excellent reputation that Level 3 has in the region led us to commit to further business with Level 3 in the hope that we continue to scale our business.”

The Level 3 network today spans 22 countries, with services offered in more than 190 markets in Europe and North America. The company operates five trans-Atlantic systems, with six diverse routes between the two continents.

Level 3, which is constantly building out its network to keep up with ever growing demand from service providers, most of them looking to rapidly expand into new markets, significantly increased its network capacity in Central and Eastern Europe in 2008. The investment in Poland, company officials say, marks another milestone in serving this region.

More recently the company announced network expansions in upstate New York and Seattle. It also recently expanded its network in South America.

“Poland continues to be a key market for us in an important and growing region,” said James Heard, president of Level 3's European Markets Group, in a release. “This fiber expansion connecting the key markets of Warsaw and Poznan to the Level 3 network in Berlin enables us to offer a comprehensive and scalable set of solutions to our customers in the region.”