Level 3, EMCALI to Connect Colombia to International Network via Subsea Cable

Level 3 Communications, Inc. announced the construction of a new undersea cable, connecting Colombia to its international network.

The terrestrial segment of the cable in Colombia is being constructed in conjunction with EMCALI (Empresas Municipales de Cali), a state-owned utilities services company in Cali, Colombia. This new infrastructure greatly improves the access to and efficiency of communications services for the country.

The new subsea route ensures that Colombia’s International connectivity will be enhanced by the addition of a Pacific submarine cable connecting Colombia and removing the reliance on traditional connectivity via the Caribbean Coast. Level 3’s new submarine cable will create an efficient alternative route to meet the country’s increasing demand for reliable and secure communications services using a new and unique landing point. Consequently, Cali will be in a position to become a development hub for the region being an inland city with direct international connectivity via the new undersea cable.

“Level 3 has been continually enhancing its network and services in Colombia to offer optimal solutions to our customers. This new Pacific subsea cable, in tandem with management from an experienced carrier such as EMCALI, should result in meaningful benefits for the country,” said Hector Alonso, regional president of Latin America for Level 3.

“Our collaboration with Level 3 on this project fits perfectly into our strategic regional plan and focuses resources on each company’s core business. Additionally, the importance of the U.S.-Colombia FTA (Free Trade Agreement) and the Pacific Alliance make EMCALI the ideal partner to join with Level 3 on this project, highlighting EMCALI as a leader in providing telecommunications services for the region and countrywide,” said Oscar Pardo, managing director of Emcali.

As part of its partnership with Level 3, EMCALI will use capacity over Level 3’s undersea cable network to connect the country directly from Cali to major cities in the Americas, such as, New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. The new route also provides enhanced connectivity to cities in Asia and Europe as well as an infrastructure platform for other telecommunications industry projects and initiatives, such as the Vive Digital Program, which will enable Colombia to increase the number of Internet connections through its Fiber National Project fourfold.

“We are proud to work with two major telecommunications companies to invest in the continued growth of the Colombian Pacific region and enhance the communications services for our people. We are confident that this project will increasingly benefit the industrial development of our cities, the country and the region as a whole,” added Rodrigo Guerrero, Mayor of Cali.

Level 3 operates a wide global platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents, in more than 60 countries and connected by extensive undersea facilities. The company owns over 170,000 kilometers (km) of intercity routes (110,000 miles); 58,000 km of metro routes (36,000 miles); 53,000 km (33,000 miles) of undersea routes with over 500 on-net markets.

Press Release, March 18, 2014