OREANDA-NEWS. Level 3 Communications (NYSE: LVLT) and Google announced they have reached a new multi-year, settlement-free interconnection agreement between their global backbone networks that will help both companies meet their customers' needs into the next decade and beyond. 

The new arrangement is centered around the concept of bit mile balance, in which both parties commit to carrying equitable amounts of bit miles, taking into account both the amount of traffic and the distance over which that traffic is carried by each network. For instance, a network can improve bit mile balance by delivering traffic to the other network closer to its end users. The agreement will also facilitate the continued growth of interconnection locations between Level 3 and Google, as required to support an ever-growing demand for the Internet.

"Google has and continues to invest into its infrastructure annually, delivering content and services to customers and end-users close to where they are. This infrastructure investment fundamentally enables connections to network providers all over the world, and we welcome more network providers to work with Google to establish similar agreements," said Kamran Sistanizadeh, vice president of Network Operations for Google.

"Our bit mile interconnection agreement with Google highlights the importance of all networks – content-based, backbone or last mile – to achieve an equitable arrangement that benefits Internet users worldwide," said Paul Savill, senior vice president of Core Product Management for Level 3. "Our companies look forward to continuing our close working relationship and are committed to providing a secure, scalable, reliable and speedy Internet experience."

About Google
Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google's innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world.

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.