Bell Atlantic Introduces Virtual Private Network Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC INTRODUCES
ALL@ONCE VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK SOLUTIONS

Bell Atlantic One of the First Regional Bell Operating Companies
to Conduct Virtual Private Network Customer Trial

PHILADELPHIA - Companies throughout the mid-Atlantic
region will soon
be able to enjoy all the benefits of a private communications network
without having to install one. Bell Atlantic announced today that it
will offer businesses the capabilities of virtual private networks
with the introduction of Bell Atlantic® All@once^SM Virtual Private
Network Solutions (VPNS) service by September. VPNS service will
allow companies to manage their local and intraLATA calls and save
money on interLATA calls using Bell Atlantic's public network as if it
were their own private network.

One Valley Bank of Charleston, W.Va., already is using VPNS service in
one of the first customer trials of a virtual private network by a
regional Bell operating company. This trial allows the bank to reduce
costs and better manage voice and switched data communications among
more than 20 trial locations.

By using the many automated features of VPNS, customers like One
Valley Bank will be able to access their voice network remotely; make
business calls from the road or home at business rates; originate
calls from remote locations while billing them to the office; and
block calls to certain telephone numbers or regions as the company
desires. Uniform pricing and billing plans can also be arranged for
all of the customer's locations to reduce administrative costs
involved with reviewing billing statements.

"For years, large businesses have set up virtual private networks to
help manage their long distance needs and reduce costs," said Joe
Cascio, vice president of marketing for Bell Atlantic Large Business
Services. "Now, they will be able to do that and more on local and
intraLATA calls using Bell Atlantic's Virtual Private Network
Solutions service. This will be especially significant for companies
with multiple locations within the mid-Atlantic region."

Bell Atlantic's Virtual Private Network Solutions allows large
business customers to configure components of the public network like
a customized private network without the expense of dedicated lines or
equipment. Until now, services of this kind could not be used for
local calls because they were offered through long-distance companies.
However, Bell Atlantic's service can be used for local calls and also
will work with the customer's existing long distance services. The
VPNS service also is compatible with Centrex services, PBX systems or
other customer premises equipment.

Once Bell Atlantic has achieved regulatory approval to deliver
interLATA long-distance services, the company plans to expand the VPNS
service to include in-region and out-of-region long distance service,
which is expected by 1997.

As an integral part of Bell Atlantic's All@once approach for large
businesses, Bell Atlantic will consult with companies to assess their
telecommunications needs and analyze their local calling patterns to
design a solution that will optimize their use of the public network.

"As One Valley Bank has grown and acquired other financial
institutions, we've found that our branches have a diverse range of
needs, existing services and equipment," said Brian Fox, chief
information officer of One Valley Bank. "With Bell Atlantic's
Virtual
Private Network Solutions service, each of our locations has access to
the same features even though many branches have different services
and carriers. This allows us to better manage our telecommunications
and significantly reduce costs."

Virtual Private Network Solutions service is the newest offering from
Bell Atlantic All@once Solutions, which provides in-depth consulting
and management services, an integrated portfolio of products and
services and streamlined ordering and billing. Bell Atlantic has
worked closely for months with One Valley Bank to design a customized
network plan to fit the bank's specific communications needs. Using
this collaborative approach, Bell Atlantic has custom-designed a
flexible VPNS service that works with the bank's existing carriers,
vendors and services and includes a mix of features to meet individual
branch office needs.

One Valley Bank in Charleston is the flagship bank of One Valley
Bancorp, Inc., a $4.2 billion bank holding company with 89 offices in
West Virginia and Virginia. The Charleston bank has 21 locations in
four counties -- Kanawha, Putnam, Wood and Jackson.

Bell Atlantic Corporation 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 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.

The company's Large Business Services organization offers customers
Bell Atlantic All@once Solutions: integrated voice, data and video
applications and the professional consulting and support services that
add up to a precise solution that fits and evolves to meet customers'
specific communications needs.

####

Media contacts:

Bell Atlantic:
Shannon Fioravanti, 703-974-5455
shannon.l.fioravanti@bell-atl.com

Hill and Knowlton, Inc.:
Aaron Graham/Michele Melillo, 212-885-0300
agraham@nyc.hillknowlton.com