CenturyLink 2006 Annual Report Download - page 8

6 CE N T U R Y TE L 2 0 0 6 A N N U A L R E V I E W
Offering Wholesale Network Solutions
We understand the competitive dynamics of today’s communica-
tions industry and manage our fiber assets to take advantage of market
conditions. Through our LightCore network, we provide a full-range of
transport services to our wholesale customers. We deliver outstanding
reliability and flexibility that meet the highest operating standards of
some of the largest communications carriers in the country.
We serve the nation’s leading Interexchange Carriers (IXCs),
Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Competitive Local Exchange Carriers
(CLECs), wireless service providers and cable system operators such
as Suddenlink™ Communications. We provide private-line services
to Suddenlink™ Communications in multiple bandwidths – all over
a self-healing, ring-protected SONET network architecture.
One of the Most Extensive Fiber Networks in the Central United States
We have invested in IP technologies and fiber assets to ensure
our LightCore network is well-positioned to serve our wholesale and
enterprise customers. Currently, our network covers more than
10,700 route miles and more than 640 points of presence in large
and small markets in the central United States. We have deployed
IP functionality along 3,300 miles of our fiber network, giving us
additional efficiencies in providing Internet services and IP private-line
services. With our capacity to aggregate network traffic, we believe
LightCore can drive economies of scale as we deploy emerging tech-
nologies and develop next-generation applications and services.
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Our LightCore network links dozens of
smaller, underserved markets with large
hub cities and provides competitive access to
key bandwidth aggregation points.
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We have the expertise and fiber assets to
provide transport services, private lines,
metro area network services, optical wavelength
services and Metro Ethernet to our wholesale
and enterprise customers.
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Our field technical support team is
positioned at strategic locations along our
fiber routes to maintain network integrity
and quickly respond to emergencies.
The investments we’ve made in our
LightCore network and customer
care capabilities enable us to meet
our wholesale customers’ needs for
traffic aggregation, network problem-
solving and cost control.
We expanded our points of
presence in Louisiana and Texas
in 2006, enabling us to serve
our existing customers in addi-
tional locations as well as add
new customers.