Bell Atlantic, IXC Communications Launch 'Seamless' ATM Service to Speed Voice, Data, Video Between Regional Calling Areas

Bell Atlantic, IXC Communications Launch 'Seamless' ATM Service
to Speed Voice, Data, Video Between Regional Calling Areas

Nov. 9, 1998

NEW YORK -- LATA (local access transport area) boundaries will be
transparent to customers when Bell Atlantic and IXC Communications
jointly provide ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) Cell Relay service.
ATM consolidates voice, data and video communications on a single
circuit at speeds up to 155 mbs (million bits per second), providing greater
capacity and flexibility.

"This service will be welcomed by customers who use their networks for
voice, faxing or downloading large volumes of data," said Tom Caldwell,
Bell Atlantic Carrier Services vice president.

ATM Cell Relay service is already widely available throughout much of
Bell Atlantic's east coast service area. However, because of restrictions
imposed in 1984 at the time of the Bell System's divestiture, Bell Atlantic
cannot carry calls across LATA boundaries. Under Bell Atlantic's
relationship with long distance carriers like IXC Communications, voice,
data and video customers can obtain seamless, end-to-end ATM service.
Bell Atlantic will provide the ATM service within its LATAs, or regional
calling areas. IXC Communications will provide the service between
LATAs.

The roll-out of the service follows a successful 45-day trial by Bell Atlantic
and IXC Communications in the Newark, N.J., and Gaithersburg, Md.,
areas.

"Our technical and market trials went very well. We're excited that we can
now offer this service to our customers," said Evelyn Gaines, fast packet
product manager in Bell Atlantic Carrier Services.

"We're pleased to partner with Bell Atlantic to provide its customers with
a single high-speed data solution for both interlata and intralata locations,"
said Leo Welsh, president of IXC's wholesale services. "In addition to the
benefit of significantly extending the reach of Bell Atlantic's ATM Cell
Relay service, its customers will also benefit from the quality and reliability
of IXC's nationwide, state-of-the-art fiber network."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and more than
seven 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.