OREANDA-NEWS. Global telecommunications provider Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) has been positioned the furthest along the "completeness of vision" and "ability to execute" axes in the Challengers quadrant in the January 2016Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Services, Global1. The report evaluated 12 network service providers on the completeness of their vision and their ability to execute on services and strategy.

Magic Quadrant Assessment:

  • The Magic Quadrant assesses suppliers that can deliver fixed corporate networking services worldwide, focusing on service quality, pricing and track record.
  • These services include:
    • WAN services, predominantly managed, including Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), IPsec VPNs, Ethernet WAN services and hybrid WANs combining several of these services
    • Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunks
    • Dedicated Internet services, including managed VPN offers
  • In addition, it is highly desirable for providers to offer value-added networking services, including, but not limited to, WAN optimization, application performance management (APM), managed LANs and wireless LANs (WLANs), and managed network security services.

Key Facts:

  • The network landscape is transforming because of emerging technologies such as software-defined networking (SDN)/software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) and adoption of hybrid technologies.
  • Level 3 is on the leading edge of these trends with its global Ethernet platform that enables its SDN-based Adaptive Network Control solution.
  • To support hybrid customer environments, Level 3 offers Voice Complete, a comprehensive, global communications solution that leverages Level 3's expansive, purpose-built IP network to provide Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking and native PRI-ISDN (Primary Rate Interface-Integrated Services Digital Network).
  • Level 3 meets the need for increased bandwidth and network connections through its continued investments in fiber infrastructure and capacity.
  • Investing in managed security services, Level 3 added two new product capabilities in 2015 – a DDoS Mitigation and a Secure Cellular solution – leveraging the company's expansive view of the threat landscape.

Anthony Christie, chief marketing officer, Level 3

"We are committed to delivering a comprehensive portfolio of network services across a broad geography to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. We believe being positioned the furthest in the Challengers quadrant for completeness of vision and ability to execute is recognition of our clear and evolving global strategy. In 2015, we launched new services and capabilities, including a DDoS mitigation product and SDN capabilities, to provide our customers with market-leading solutions delivered with an exceptional customer experience."

Additional Resources:

About the Magic Quadrant:

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

1 Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Network Services, Global - Neil Rickard, Bjarne Munch. Published: 14 January 2016

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a Fortune 500 company that provides local, national and global communications services to enterprise, government and carrier customers. Level 3's comprehensive portfolio of secure, managed solutions includes fiber and infrastructure solutions; IP-based voice and data communications; wide-area Ethernet services; video and content distribution; data center and cloud-based solutions. Level 3 serves customers in more than 500 markets in over 60 countries across a global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents and connected by extensive undersea facilities.