CenturyLink Technology Solutions uses IO technology to open multi-megawatt data centers in Phoenix market

-- Deal expands hosting footprint of CenturyLink into new market, provides clients with capacity based on IO's Intelligent Control® technology platform

MONROE, Louisiana and PHOENIX, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) and IO today announced a strategic agreement to expand the CenturyLink Technology Solutions colocation footprint using IO's Intelligent Control technology platform, with initial deployments at IO Phoenix and nearby IO Scottsdale.

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CenturyLink Technology Solutions, which formerly operated under the name Savvis, will enter the Phoenix market as a hosting and colocation provider, making up to 9 megawatts of additional capacity available to its clients through rapidly deployable IO technology. CenturyLink has a deep understanding of the Phoenix market, where it maintains a substantial network services business and employs more than 1,700 employees.

The IO Intelligent Control technology platform consists of IO.Anywhere® data center modules and the integrated IO.OS® data center operating system, which provides integrated control, data collection and business intelligence across data center infrastructure, IT equipment, applications and users of the data center. In the CenturyLink data center space, IO's technology will be complemented by CenturyLink's broad set of colocation, managed services, cloud and network offerings. Clients will also gain access to CenturyLink's ClientConnect, an online gateway for businesses to expand their capabilities by locating, connecting and sharing services with other businesses residing across CenturyLink's global data center footprint.

"CenturyLink continues to invest in expanding our global data center footprint into key markets like Phoenix and extending our hosting capabilities through new technologies like IO's Intelligent Control platform," said Jeff Von Deylen, president of CenturyLink Technology Solutions. "The pioneering IO technology enhances our product mix with the latest options for delivering flexible hybrid IT solutions. IO's energy-efficient data center technology platform can be deployed just-in-time, helping us to preserve capital and enabling our clients to reduce costs and operate more efficiently."

"With its immense global footprint, world-class data center capabilities and Savvis legacy, CenturyLink Technology Solutions is a major force in the industry," said George D. Slessman, IO chief executive officer and product architect. "We believe CenturyLink's substantial commitment to IO technology further validates that our Intelligent Control platform can meet the demands of large-scale, global service providers."

"Armed with IO's prefabricated modular technology and proprietary data center operating system, CenturyLink is rounding out its digital infrastructure offering by combining a sophisticated, agile and intuitive data center platform with its deep stack of IT services, optimizing customer scalability and management capabilities," said Michael Levy, data centers senior analyst at 451 Research.

This strategic agreement with IO follows recent CenturyLink announcements regarding investments in its hosting capabilities, including the acquisitions of Tier 3 and AppFog and data center construction projects in Toronto and Minneapolis. CenturyLink operates more than 50 data centers worldwide, with more than 2.5 million square feet of gross raised floor space throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

About CenturyLink Technology Solutions
CenturyLink Technology Solutions delivers innovative managed services for global businesses on virtual, dedicated and colocation platforms. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com/technology.

About CenturyLink
CenturyLink is the third largest telecommunications company in the United States and is recognized as a leader in the network services market by technology industry analyst firms. The company is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprise customers. CenturyLink provides data, voice and managed services in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers for businesses and consumers. The company also offers advanced entertainment services under the CenturyLink^® Prism™ TV and DIRECTV brands. Headquartered in Monroe, La., CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America's largest corporations. For more information, visit www.centurylink.com.

About IO
IO is a global leader in software-defined data centers and has pioneered the next generation of data center infrastructure technology. IO's integrated hardware and software data center technology platform offers enterprises, governments, and service providers an innovative way to deploy, provision, and optimize data center capacity anywhere in the world. IO technology lowers the total cost of data center ownership compared to traditional data centers, enabling dynamic deployment and intelligent control based on the needs of IT equipment and applications in the data center. For more information, visit io.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this communication, including statements regarding the expected benefits of the acquisition such as efficiencies, cost savings, enhanced revenues, growth potential, market profile and financial strength, and the competitive ability and position of the combined company, and other statements identified by words such as "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect. Factors that could affect actual results include but are not limited to: the possibility that the anticipated benefits cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to integrating the companies will be greater than expected; the ability of the combined company to retain and hire key personnel; the timing, success and overall effects of competition from a wide variety of competitive providers; the risks inherent in rapid technological change; the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry; the ability of the combined company to effectively adjust to changes in the communications industry and to successfully introduce new product or service offerings on a timely and cost-effective basis; any adverse developments in commercial disputes or legal proceedings; changes in our future cash requirements; and other risk factors and cautionary statements as detailed from time to time in CenturyLink's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should be aware that new factors may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to identify all such factors nor can we predict the impact of each such factor on the acquisition or the combined company. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication. Unless legally required, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.