CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced that symmetrical broadband speeds up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) are available to tens of thousands of residential and business customers in select Seattle neighborhoods through the company’s ultra-fast fiber network. This highly advanced fiber technology provides access to the some of the fastest upload and download Internet speeds currently available in the U.S.

CenturyLink’s 1 Gbps fiber service will initially launch in a select number of Seattle neighborhoods, including Ballard, West Seattle, the Central District and Beacon Hill, as well as available businesses throughout the Puget Sound area.

“In a city that boasts some of the world’s leading technology providers, it’s critical that residents and businesses have leading technology available to them,” said Sue Anderson, CenturyLink general manager/vice president for Seattle. “We chose Seattle for this next-generation technology because the city’s tech-savvy customers demand it. CenturyLink is pleased to bring this product offering to Seattle today.”

“We believe increased broadband speeds can lead to both economic and educational growth opportunities in the Pacific Northwest,” said Brian Stading, CenturyLink region president for the Northwest. “This growth potential is supported by the trust current businesses put in CenturyLink’s services and the expansion of our fiber network is just another example of why CenturyLink is a premier supplier of technology and technology solutions in the Pacific Northwest.”

CenturyLink’s 1 Gbps service is equivalent to 1,000 Mbps - up to 100 times faster than today’s national average broadband speeds of 10 Mbps or less, according to industry studies. These speeds allow users to stream high-definition video content with little to no delays and download movies, songs and TV shows in seconds.

Businesses throughout Puget Sound, whether located within multi-tenant unit buildings, strip malls or stand-alone locations, can now benefit from Internet and data network upload and download speeds of up to 1 Gbps to help increase productivity and efficiency while working in the cloud, sharing multimedia files, streaming video content and backing-up data in real-time. By extending fiber-to-the-premises connections deeper into the business community, CenturyLink’s fast fiber-based business solutions can help the city attract new businesses and drive economic growth.

“Seattle is technology city, but there are a number of steps we as a city must take to remain a national leader, including bringing cutting-edge Internet service to more businesses and residents,” said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. “CenturyLink’s investment in 1-gigabit fiber is a very positive step in our city’s much larger effort to increase competition and broaden access to high-speed Internet – especially for those in underserved areas of our city.”

CenturyLink is delivering some of the fastest Internet speeds in the United States. Today’s launch in Seattle coincides with the company’s business and consumer gigabit service launch in 12 other cities and extends the service already available in parts of Omaha, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

Residential customers can purchase 1 Gbps service for a monthly recurring charge of $79.95 when bundled with additional, qualifying CenturyLink services.

For information detailing this service and to receive updates on when the service is available in additional Seattle area communities:
· visit http://www.centurylink.com/gig