BellSouth's State-of-the-Art e-Business Centers Receive Additional Industry Accreditation.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2002

Internet Data Centers Complete SAS 70 Audits, Obtain SysTrust(TM)

Certification, Ensuring Customer Data Is Kept Safe, Secure

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) today announced its completion of SAS 70 audits and SysTrust certification for the company's e-Business Centers. BellSouth(R) e-Business Centers, the cornerstones of BellSouth's e-Platform initiative, support a broad spectrum of e-business applications and services from within hardened facilities in Atlanta and Miami, and extend BellSouth's existing network capabilities and historical strengths in real-time availability and customer service.

These accreditations extend BellSouth's leadership in providing secure and reliable hosting and e-business services to customers.

The SysTrust certification and Type II SAS 70 audit were completed during the six-month period from July to December, 2001, while Type I SAS 70 was completed in June 2001. The SysTrust certification is based on performance in three key areas used to evaluate reliability of data center systems. Ernst & Young, LLP performed both SAS 70 audits and the SysTrust certification.

"BellSouth is committed to providing customers with comprehensive e-business solutions from its state-of-the-art e-Business Centers," said Jai Menon, BellSouth's executive vice president of applications, strategy and product innovation. "Customers' confidence in the BellSouth brand is a result of our ability to deliver on their expectations while protecting the integrity of customers' information."

"SAS 70 and SysTrust are important safeguards for BellSouth customers that demonstrate BellSouth's e-Business Centers are reliable and capable of operating without material errors or failures during the audit timeframe in a specified environment," said Bernie Wedge, Technology & Security Risk Services Partner at Ernst & Young. "BellSouth e-Business Services customers want to know that their information is secure and available. Their livelihoods depend upon information systems and the data contained in them, and these accreditations answer the critical need for reliability of systems."

SAS 70 Audits and SysTrust Certifications: BellSouth Achieves New Standards

The Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 70, Service Organizations, is an auditing standard developed and maintained by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). SAS 70 is a widely recognized standard established to describe controls relevant to a user organization's internal control environment. SAS 70 Type I addresses the systems and objectives put in place by the organization, while Type II evaluates the performance of those systems over a six-month period.

SysTrust is an assurance service that independently tests and verifies a system's reliability. This service is part of a broader future vision of the accounting profession to supply real-time assurance on information databases and systems and is a natural extension of the CPA's audit and information technology consulting functions. In earning SysTrust Certification, BellSouth was tested against essential principles including availability, security and maintainability.

The successful completion of the SAS 70 audits and the addition of SysTrust certification add to BellSouth e-Business Centers' growing list of industry accreditation. BellSouth e-Business Centers have also received the following recognitions:

-- "SunTone(SM)" Certified

-- IBM "Hosting Advantage" Certified

-- "Cisco Powered Network" Certified

BellSouth's world-class e-Business Centers opened in September 2000. Each facility is a fully equipped data center with the network and systems equipment, infrastructure, security, network management, and technical and customer support to accommodate high-traffic and mission-critical e-commerce data and applications. The hardened structures are designed to withstand severe weather and feature raised floors, 24-hour surveillance, biometric-controlled access and redundant battery back-up and power generation systems. For more information on the BellSouth e-Business Centers and to take a virtual tour, visit www.bellsouth.com/ebiz/.

About the BellSouth e-Platform

BellSouth's e-Platform initiative incorporates the robust network infrastructure that delivers reliable dial tone everyday with the latest in fiber optic connectivity, hardware and software to create the ideal environment for hosting data-intensive applications and services. The BellSouth e-Platform utilizes the latest in connectivity options including DWDM and Gigabit Ethernet to deliver customer-driven applications and services such as hosting, security and storage to businesses and consumers alike. The e-Platform is powered by 4.1 million miles of fiber optic cable, state-of-the-art BellSouth e-Business Centers, 1,650 central offices, 50 BellSouth Managed Facilities, 21,000 SONET rings and over 750 fast-packet switches to create an integrated, distributed e-business platform. BellSouth's e-Platform initiative leverages this extensive network infrastructure and experience with data services to deliver the speed, reliability and security required for next-generation e-business applications.

About Ernst & Young LLP

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, understands the business issues that are important to senior executives. With extensive business knowledge and hands-on industry experience, the global Ernst & Young organization can implement a broad array of solutions to help companies capture growth, improve financial performance and manage risk--anywhere in the world. Its 84,000 people serve as trusted business advisers in more than 130 countries, offering audit, tax, corporate finance and transaction services across all industries. Ernst & Young's Technology and Security Risk Services (TSRS) provides clients with assistance in minimizing IT risks, building an environment of trust, and increasing the value delivered by their IT investments. Ernst & Young's network of over 2,000 IT assurance and advisory professionals worldwide offer unparalleled depth of security and control experience and expertise in IT advisory services. Go to www.ey.com/trust to learn more about Ernst & Young's Innovative Assurance Solutions. Ernst & Young refers to all members of the global Ernst & Young organization, including the U.S. firm of Ernst & Young LLP.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, serving nearly 46 million customers in the United States and 15 other countries.

Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full array of broadband data and e-commerce solutions to business customers, including Web hosting and other Internet services. In the residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and other services. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising services, including BellSouth(R) Real Pages(SM).com.

BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides innovative wireless data and voice services.