BELL ATLANTIC AND AMERICAN MOBILE BELL ATLANTIC AND AMERICAN MOBILE WHOLESALE OPERATOR SERVICES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC AND AMERICAN MOBILE SATELLITE CORPORATION
SIGN AGREEMENT FOR WHOLESALE OPERATOR SERVICES

Bell Atlantic to Provide InterLATA Operator Services for
SKYCELL

Arlington, VA -- Bell Atlantic and AMSC today announced
that Bell
Atlantic is now providing interLATA operator services to customers of
American Mobile Satellite Corp.'s SKYCELL*® Satellite Telephone
Service. For Bell Atlantic, it's a significant step forward into the
wholesale long distance operator services market, and for AMSC, a
continuation of its strong customer commitment, by offering SKYCELL
customers the opportunity to use Bell Atlantic operator services to
select a billing method for individual calls.

AMSC offers a full range of satellite-delivered mobile communications
for its customers in transportation, land mobile, maritime,
aeronautical and fixed site markets. Bell Atlantic will provide
AMSC's SKYCELL customers with call completion assistance on collect,
person-to-person, credit card, and third-party calls, as well as
regional Bell operating company calling card calls. Bell Atlantic
will provide these services to allow SKYCELL customers and home
offices/hubs to communicate with each other, and customers can use the
services to make personal long distance calls.

Bell Atlantic is providing SKYCELL customers these services under a
Federal Communications Commission tariff. Bell Atlantic was the first
regional Bell operating company to file a tariff with the FCC to
provide call assistance on interLATA calls, and one of the first to
offer this service to long distance companies.

"Our new interLATA operator services provide long distance companies
with a distinct competitive edge," said Lorraine E. Chickering,
president of Bell Atlantic's Public and Operator Services. "We're
providing carriers with more choices and the potential for greater
efficiencies. Ultimately, the calling customer enjoys the benefits."

"Bell Atlantic provides a wide variety of services, including live
operator handling, call rating and billing customized to meet the
needs of long distance providers," according to Chickering.
"Bell
Atlantic's carrier call representatives will handle these calls and
brand the service with the carrier's name. The carrier gains the
advantage of providing its customers with the quality and reliability
of Bell Atlantic service," she said.

AMSC chose Bell Atlantic because of Bell Atlantic's reputation for
quality service and reasonable rates. "Bell Atlantic provides us
with
a turnkey solution," according to Brian Pemberton, AMSC president
and
CEO. "An important component of this solution is rating and
billing.
Bell Atlantic offered AMSC's customers flexibility in choosing a
billing method. This kind of flexibility is critical for our
customers." he said.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

AMSC provides mobile communications coverage over the continental
United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and
hundreds of miles of U.S. coastal waters. AMSC's shareholders include
Hughes Communications Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics; Singapore
Telecom; and AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.

INTERNET USERS: Bell Atlantic news releases, executive speeches, news
media contacts and other useful information are available on Bell
Atlantic's media relations World Wide Web site (http://www.ba.com) or
by gopher (gopher://ba.com). To receive news releases via e-mail,
send a message to lists@ba.com.

* SKYCELL is a trademark of American Mobile Satellite
Corp.

####

Media contacts:

Ells Edwards - Bell Atlantic, 302-576-5340
ellsworth.edwards@bell-atl.com

Holly Benton - Bell Atlantic, 301-282-5701
holly.m.benton@bell-atl.com

Orly Konig-Lopez - AMSC, 703-716-6522
lopezo@skycell.com