Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3, a broadband infrastructure company, will sell Compass a variety of network services, including dedicated Internet access, private lines, and managed modem services. Compass, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a facilities-based integrated communications provider offering telephony network and broadband connectivity for communications services, including voice, data, and video. Level 3's dedicated Internet access service allows customers to connect to the public Internet via the company's private high-speed lines.
Private lines are dedicated amounts of bandwidth connecting two fixed locations.
For instance, managed modem, launched in 1998, now processes more than four billion minutes every month. It was the first of our services to use the Softswitch technology pioneered by Level 3, enabling Level 3 to provide services that combine the best features of the Internet and traditional telephone networks. We're looking forward to working with Compass as they begin delivering the benefits of our network to end users in markets throughout the country. Level 3 offers services primarily to Web-centric companies, which deliver their services over the Level 3 Network. Level 3 expects to substantially complete the U.S. and first two rings of the European intercity network by the fourth quarter of 2000.