Copying and distributing are prohibited without permission of the publisher
Crowe: mixing management know-how and new technology
01 April 1999
Level 3 Communications is deploying a state-of-the-art IP network that will be cheaper to use and improve than other networks owing to conduits that allow for continuous fibre upgrades. It also benefits from an experienced management team responsible for the success of MFS. The operator's president and CEO James Crowe talks to Mark Holmes about the company's plans.
Level 3 Communications is building an IP-based network, which can
be constantly upgraded. It has already managed to raise $6.5
billion so far to fund its network and is clearly one of the best
capitalized start-up businesses. It has been able to raise these
funds owing to an original business plan and the experienced
management team led by the president and CEO, James Crowe.
Crowe has virtually rebuilt the management team behind the success
of the competitive access provider MFS Communications, which was
eventually sold to WorldCom for $14.3 billion in 1996. The company
had only started up in 1989. Investors clearly believe that Crowe
can repeat that success with Level 3 Communications and attract a
significant share of large enterprise clients that benefited from
previous contacts with MFS.
According to Stephanie Comfort, principal telecoms analyst at
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Level 3 can leverage two main
advantages: "Level...
Access to this content is denied because you are not logged in. Please login to view this content
Already have an account?
Subscribe
Subscribers have unlimited access to all current and archive content. Start your
subscription today - click on the button below.
Free trial
Taking a free trial will give you access to the current issue for two weeks (excluding
some surveys and articles). Start your free trial today.
