Bell Atlantic Deploys Fiber Optics, Bringing Advanced Technology, Services to King of Prussia, Trooper

Bell Atlantic Deploys Fiber Optics, Bringing Advanced
Technology, Services to King of Prussia, Trooper

Company Investing $1.5 Million to Expand and
Upgrade Local Telephone Network

March 22, 1999

PHILADELPHIA -- Bell Atlantic technicians will install almost four
miles of fiber-optic cable and other new equipment in the King of Prussia
and Trooper areas, as part of a $1.5 million project to upgrade the local
telephone network and provide advanced telecommunications services.

To prepare for the new fiber-optic systems, Bell Atlantic is installing
additional underground conduits on Allendale Road from the Bell Atlantic
call-switching center to the Route 202 intersection. Also, new conduit is
being placed on First Avenue from the Bell Atlantic call-switching center
to the Gulph Road intersection.

When placement of the conduit is completed later this month, the new
fiber-optic cable will be installed. Fiber-optic systems use hair-thin glass
fibers and digital technology to deliver high quality telephone service
along with high-capacity/high-speed voice and data transmission services.

"This project is the latest evidence that Bell Atlantic - Pennsylvania is
meeting our commitment to deliver a state-of-the-art telecommunications
network throughout Pennsylvania," said Daniel J. Whelan, president of
Bell Atlantic - Pennsylvania. "We are accelerating our construction
schedules to provide rural and urban customers with high-speed access to
the Internet, work-at-home capabilities, as well as a host of other
innovative services advanced services."

Whelan said Bell Atlantic has made major strides in deploying advanced
technology in its network:

• Annual spending on the Pennsylvania network nearly doubled
  from $539 million in 1995 to more than $961 million in 1998.

• Miles of fiber-optic cable in the Commonwealth increased 66
  percent from 474,450 in 1995 to 786,106 at the end of 1998.

• Percentage of digital call-routing switches has grown from 90.3
  in 1995 to 96 percent at the end of 1998.

• Bell Atlantic Infospeed DSL was launched in Pennsylvania last
  fall Infospeed DSL is a high-speed, always-on Internet access
  service that enables consumers to connect to cyberspace at speeds
  up to 100 times faster than today's fastest analog modems.

  In addition, Bell Atlantic spent tens of millions of dollars to open
  Pennsylvania's local telephone market to competition.

"We have irreversibly opened our markets to competition," Whelan said.
"We can't force the long distance giants or anyone else to compete here,
but anyone who genuinely wants to enter our markets can do so.

"Bell Atlantic is keeping its promise to Pennsylvania, Whelan said. "We
are building and enhancing a public telecommunications network in
Pennsylvania that is the finest in the world and a vital part of the
Commonwealth's economic infrastructure."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 42 million telephone access lines
and 8.6 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies
are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.