LLDS Communications, one of the four largest long distance companies, to offer direct-dial calls to Cuba.

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1994--LDDS Communications, one of the four largest long distance companies in the United States, announced Thursday that it will offer direct dialing to Cuba beginning as early as next week.

Direct calls to Cuba have been approved by the U.S. government and several carriers, including LDDS, are prepared to offer service upon receipt of final approvals from the Cuban government.

"LDDS will have more than 50% of the circuits available to Cuba, and is thereby positioned to offer more access and fewer busy signals via direct-dial calls than other long distance carriers," said Mark Welton, vice president of marketing for LDDS.

LDDS also announced that its per-minute rates will be extremely competitive at a flat $1.42 per minute for peak-period and $1.13 per minute for off-peak calls to Cuba.

In addition to very affordable rates, LDDS will provide a complete line of services including international direct dialing to more than 220 countries; bilingual operator assistance and customer service; the innovative OnLine calling card, Home Advantage and Homebound 800 residential services; an attractive collection of prepaid calling cards; and other long distance services to facilitate calling to Cuba.

For those without LDDS long distance service, the company will establish convenient Call Centers in South Florida and Cuba to enable customers to enjoy easy access to calls to and from Cuba and take advantage of LDDS conference calling and faxing services. Other U.S. cities will offer LDDS Call Centers in the near future.

"Current LDDS customers will be the first to be able to use direct-dial calling services to Cuba when service begins next week," according to Welton. "We encourage those who wish to be the first to call Cuba to contact LDDS immediately at 1 800-HABLAME, our Spanish-language center, to sign up for service with LDDS."

Due to its recently announced acquisitions of IDB WorldCom, the largest provider of international private lines, and WilTel Network Services, a leader in high-speed data and telecommunications technology, LDDS is able to offer greater access to Cuba calling than other authorized long distance providers. "These strategic acquisitions, scheduled to be completed by year-end, reinforce our commitment to provide complete support to the Hispanic communities served by LDDS, and to offer whatever services are required to assist these communities in meeting their communications needs," added Bernard J. Ebbers, president and chief executive officer of LDDS.

Direct-dial calls to Cuba using LDDS service will be a simple matter of dialing 011 + 53 (the country code for Cuba) + the city code + the phone number. For more information in Spanish, or to join LDDS, call 1-800/HABLAME, the Spanish-language service offered by LDDS. "Callers to Latin America and Cuba will discover LDDS to be the most effective and economical long distance service available," said Welton.

"In addition, we are offering a special introductory rate to encourage new customers to try LDDS. We're confident that once they have experienced the quality and reliability of LDDS service, and low LDDS rates, our customers will not be satisfied with any other long distance service."

To publicize its service to Cuba, LDDS has developed a Hispanic advertising and marketing program, to be introduced next week, using South Florida Spanish-language broadcast and print media. The company will also be involved in Hispanic direct marketing through special events and telemarketing programs.

LDDS offers savings of 20% to 40% over AT&T, MCI and Sprint as well as a wide variety of services for the home and business. LDDS Communications Inc. is one of the four largest providers of Long Distance and Data Services in the world. The company employs 4,500 telecommunications professionals in more than 160 offices from coast to coast. LDDS is a public company headquartered in Jackson, Miss. whose stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol LDDS.

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