BellSouth Increases Power and Scalability of Converged Data Solutions; Enabling Businesses to Streamline Voice and Data Networks.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2002

Greater Bandwidth Flexibility Offers Businesses Cost-Effective

Voice, Video and Data Integration Choices

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) today announced it is offering customers two new means of connecting to its powerful packet-based data backbone at speeds exceeding 1.5 Mbps.

By enabling customers to access BellSouth's ATM network via Primary Rate ISDN (PRI) or Subrate T3, businesses can build flexible, converged networks that deliver multiple voice, video and data applications to the desktop over a single line.

BellSouth's ATM network enables businesses to avoid over-provisioning corporate networks by incrementally scaling bandwidth from T1 to OC3. This provides businesses a cost-effective means of deploying ATM enabled applications.

"By expanding connectivity options at the heart of a corporate network, increasing access to bandwidth and enhancing networking services, BellSouth is offering customers the solutions that create a reliable, scalable and secure data network," said Mark Kaish, vice president of BellSouth Data Services. "Providing a robust data network at the metro level ensures businesses have a fortified core upon which to build a regional, national and ultimately a global network."

With Subrate T3, a high-speed data transport service that connects companies to BellSouth's redundant ATM network, businesses can capitalize on innovative, high-speed applications and emerging technologies. It provides scalable bandwidth from 18 Mbps to 36 Mbps, offering the power and flexibility needed to quickly scale customer networks with minimal provisioning intervals. This enables customers to more effectively manage network operations and maximize financial budgets.

Subrate T3 allows businesses and institutions that experience increased customer demand at predictable times of the year to effectively serve customers. These industries include:

-- Carve out PRI service from an existing ATM backbone to deliver PBX trunks
and Centrex lines, allowing businesses to increase productivity.

-- Quickly add more PRI channels to handle the increase in customers who call
reservation centers during peak times of the year, offering companies the
ability to respond quickly to their customers' needs.

-- Carry voice, video and data over a single ATM backbone enabling bandwidth
and network efficiencies.

-- Multiple PBXs can be tied together to provide additional features and
functionality such as seven digit dialing and enhanced call routing
capabilities.

"Typically businesses accommodate for predictable peak times by over-provisioning their network with these minimal occurrences in mind which may not always be the most economical solution," said Sandra Palumbo, Yankee Group Telecommunications Strategies analyst. "BellSouth's offering allows businesses the flexibility to scale their bandwidth as their network and business needs require."

"Most companies experience peaks in business activities at predictable times throughout the year," said Joan Kratz, vice president of marketing for BellSouth Business. "We are committed to providing cost-effective solutions that enable businesses to manage seasonal and market driven ebbs and flows. Extending the capabilities of BellSouth's expansive data network enables companies to rapidly scale communications as their business needs change."

With PRI over ATM businesses can streamline communications and achieve true voice and data convergence, allowing companies to effectively manage increasing volumes of traffic over a single access point. By building an integrated voice and data network and streamlining communications, businesses can reduce costs associated with adding IT personnel and equipment needed to maintain a growing network.

PRI over ATM enables companies and other institutions to:

-- Carve out PRI service from an existing ATM backbone to deliver PBX trunks
and Centrex lines, allowing businesses to increase productivity.

-- Quickly add more PRI channels to handle the increase in customers who call
reservation centers during peak times of the year, offering companies the
ability to respond quickly to their customers' needs.

-- Carry voice, video and data over a single ATM backbone enabling bandwidth
and network efficiencies.

-- Multiple PBXs can be tied together to provide additional features and
functionality such as seven digit dialing and enhanced call routing
capabilities.

More information about BellSouth's PRI over ATM solution can be found at www.bellsouth.com/business/products_services/data_ATM.html.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company headquartered in Atlanta, GA, serving nearly 45 million customers in the United States and 14 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.