1. Level 3 Voice Services Network Architecture June 15, 2004
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2. About Level(3) Communications
Network
19,000 mile North American intercity network
72 North American markets in service
3,600 mile Pan European network
20 European markets in service
Fully owned Trans-Atlantic undersea capacity via Yellow
MPLS used to manage QoS from end to end
Softswitch Operating Experience
Developing and operating Softswitch platforms since 1998
Running VoIP since 1999
100% Softswitch infrastructure for VoIP and Dial traffic
CLEC-based services in 48 states with 1.8 million trunks
Rate center coverage to 93% of the U.S. population
More than 24 Billion minutes of Softswitch traffic per month
Over 300 Billion lifetime Softswitch minutes
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3. Services & Revenue Breakdown
Softswitch Services – 42% of Communications Revenue(1)
Managed Modem
Voice
Services
IP & Data Services – 26% of Communications Revenue(1)
Dedicated
Internet Access
(3)FlexSM Data Services
Security & VPN
DSL Aggregation
Transport & Infrastructure Services – 32% of Communications Revenue(1)
Wavelengths
Private Line
Transatlantic & Backhaul
Fiber Services
Gateway Services
Colocation
Fiber Services
Technical Support
(1) Percentages are based on first quarter 2004 Communications GAAP revenue
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4. Softswitch Background
VIPER softswitch
Developed in-house and supported by internal developers
Patented in August 2002
Incremental capacity can be added at a fraction of the cost of circuit-switched solutions
Co-carrier trunk plant
National network of direct interconnects to all major LECs
Operational experience
Created the OSS and processes to manage large volume of traffic at significantly lower costs than legacy providers
Ability to extend platform to other services
Continuing to invest in platform
Ability to offer additional services using same infrastructure
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5. Level 3 – Softswitch Network Coverage
Softswitch Local Footprint
CLEC-based service in 48 states with 1.4 million trunks and full Local Number Portability (LNP) compliance
Rate centers cover approximately 93% of the U.S. population
Sample coverage – Kansas City
13 rate centers
14,400 trunks installed
Long-distance Footprint
240 IXC tandem interconnects
Wholesale termination of voice calls into Country code 1 (U.S., Canada, and U.S. Territories) and internationally.
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6. Level 3 Voice Services Overview
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7. Voice Services Portfolio
Level 3 Products
Product Type
Segment Target
Enterprise
3Tone
Value Added
Hosted
(Turn-Key
Applications)
Consumer
HomeTone
Enhanced
(Class 5 Functionality)
Consumer or
Enhanced Local
Enterprise
Transport
( Building Blocks)
Local Inbound
Toll Free
Transit/Peering
Termination
Wholesale
Level 3 provides a vertically integrated suite of VoIP products which allows customers to choose the amount of product complexity they want to manage
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8. Voice Services Portfolio
Level 3 Products
Product Type
Capabilities
HomeTone +
Business Features =
3Tone
Value Added
Hosted
(Turn-Key
Applications)
Enhanced +
Hosted Application =
HomeTone
Transport +
E911, Class 5
Enhanced
(Class 5 Functionality) =
Enhanced Local
Enhanced Local
Origination
&
Termination
Transport
( Building Blocks)
Local Inbound
Toll Free
Transit/Peering
Termination =
Level 3 provides a vertically integrated suite of VoIP products which allows customers to choose the amount of product complexity they want to manage
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9. Level 3 Voice Architecture
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10. IP and PSTN Interfaces Signaling Gateway IP Media Gateway
Takes external signaling in both traditional TDM and IP mechanisms and normalizes them to SIP for use in the Level 3 Network.
IP Media Gateway
Media Interworking and border control of the Level3 IP Network; provides security, NATing, topology hiding etc.
TDM Media Gateway
Media Interworking function between the TDM/PSTN network and the IP Network.
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11. Network Features Session Controller Network & Feature Servers
This device establishes and controls sessions in the network.
It maintains state and controls gateways
Network & Feature Servers
Receives SIP signaling and applies routing or feature services
Media Servers
End points used by Feature Servers to manipulate or send media (announcements, conferences, etc).
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12. 3Voice Termination (IP Handoff) Logical Architecture
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13. 3VoIP Local Inbound Logical Architecture
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14. 3VoIP Enhanced Local Logical Architecture
Inbound Architecture works like 3VoIP Inbound Local
Outbound Architecture works like 3VT(IP) with End Office Termination
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15. HomeTone Logical Architecture
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16. Regulatory Environment
Level 3 is a certified telecommunications service provider at the federal and state levels
Registered as a CLEC in all states except Iowa and Maine
Supports E911, Operator/ Directory Services, LNP, N11, etc
Forbearance petition filed in January 2004
Asks FCC to reaffirm that legacy switched access charges to not apply to voice over IP
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