Level 3’s Network to Carry Microsoft Services

Level 3 Communications Inc. said its high-speed network will carry traffic for six Microsoft Corp. Internet services for the next three years.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed. MSN Hotmail, a free e-mail service, and the MSN Messenger instant-message product are among Microsoft services to be carried on Level 3’s fiber-optic network in North America, said David Samuels, Level 3 senior director for global IP services.

Level 3, which is building a global telephone and data network, said it will be one of Microsoft’s primary data carriers. The MSN Internet services that will use Level 3’s network have more than 230 million users worldwide, Level 3 said.

Shares of Level 3, which is based near Denver in Broomfield, Colo., rose 50 cents to $5.20 while Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft rose $1.29 to $70.14, both on Nasdaq.