BOYS TOWN, Neb., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) and Boys Town National Hotline announce the completion of a multi-site technology upgrade which includes a high-performance Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network that connects 12 offices throughout the U.S. This networking solution enables the non-profit Boys Town to better communicate with teenagers, parents and families who need assistance, whether it's by phone, text, chat, or email.

Boys Town National Hotline, which operates 24/7/365, received more than 180,000 calls and online contacts in 2017 from individuals dealing with abuse, addictions, suicidal thoughts and family issues. Over the past 30 years, the Hotline (1-800-448-3000) has helped more than 10 million people. 

"We are in the business of saving children and healing families, so it's vital we have reliable communication services and connectivity to ensure we're always there for those who need us," said Todd Van Roy, director of communications engineering at Boys Town. "We've put our trust in CenturyLink for a secure network solution that will help us provide a lifeline for individuals needing help."

CenturyLink MPLS provides Boys Town with a private wide area network (WAN) that delivers a reliable and scalable broadband connection to its 12 locations nationwide and an online portal Boys Town can access for adjusting their bandwidth needs. CenturyLink also provides those locations with SIP Trunk for voice and video calling and 10 gigabit Optical Wavelength Service (OWS) between two Boys Town hospitals in Omaha for securely sharing large information files.

"Helping connect businesses to the power of the digital world and simplifying the customer experience is at the heart of what we do," said Vernon Irvin, president, government, education, medium and small business at CenturyLink. "CenturyLink's broad technology portfolio allows organizations like Boys Town to find the right communication solutions they need. We're proud to be a key technology provider for the Boys Town National Hotline and to play a role in helping them help others."

Key Facts

• CenturyLink has installed a high-performance Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network connecting 12 Boys Town facilities throughout the U.S., including offices in Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.
• CenturyLink has provided communications services to the Boys Town National Hotline since 2011, including SIP Trunk, MPLS, OWS and internet services.
• In 2017, Boys Town National Hotline was contacted by 26,000 individuals who were having suicidal thoughts.

Additional Resources

• Boys Town video: http://www.centurylink.com/business/resources/video/boys-town-hotline-saving-lives.html
• Vernon Irvin blog: Practical Steps for Healthcare Innovation http://www.centurylinkbrightideas.com/practical-steps-for-healthcare-innovation/

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is the second largest U.S. communications provider to global enterprise customers. With customers in more than 60 countries and an intense focus on the customer experience, CenturyLink strives to be the world's best networking company by solving customers' increased demand for reliable and secure connections. The company also serves as its customers' trusted partner, helping them manage increased network and IT complexity and providing managed network and cyber security solutions that help protect their business.

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.