Bell Atlantic Mobile to Expand Digital Coverage in Saratoga and Albany Counties

Bell Atlantic Mobile to Expand Digital Coverage in Saratoga and Albany Counties

Network Expansion Increases Coverage More Than 40 Percent

May 13, 1998

ALBANY, NY -- Bell Atlantic Mobile announced today it
will expand its digital wireless phone coverage area by more than 40
percent in the Capital Region. The network expansion, which includes
North Saratoga County and the southern tier of Albany County, will be
available to consumers, June 1.

The expanded digital coverage area will include: Routes 50, 9 and I87
north from Malta to the junction of I87 and NY I 96, to South Glens Falls;
Routes 4 and 40 around the area of Stillwater and Willard Mountain; Route
9 just north of Saratoga; Route 29 west of Saratoga; and Route 32 near
Selkirk south to NY 143.

"As a result of our customers' interest in digital, we've implemented some
bold initiatives and continue to invest in our greatest asset, our premier
East Coast network," said Bob Stott, Northeast Region president of Bell
Atlantic Mobile. "In addition to increasing our digital coverage area in the
Capital Region, we've also significantly reduced our pricing for all types of
customers."

The service, called DigitalChoice^sm, allows customers to make and receive calls, answer pages, receive voice mail and know who is calling -- all while
providing increased call reliability, greater voice clarity, enhanced privacy,
and extended portable phone battery life. Customers can use their digital
phones virtually anywhere in the United States because Bell Atlantic
Mobile wireless service works on both analog (traditional cellular) and
compatible digital networks.

In March, the company lowered per-minute rates an average of 15%, and
eliminated landline charges and peak/off-peak distinctions for these new
price plans. Through its aggressive digital strategy for both new and
existing customers, Bell Atlantic Mobile reported their digital subscriber
base has grown to more than a quarter-million since launching the
technology. Bell Atlantic Mobile's DigitalChoice service offering includes:

Five DigitalChoice price plans which range from $19.99 monthly access
with 20 minutes' home airtime included to $149.99 for 1300 included
home airtime minutes (over 21 hours). All plans include first incoming
minute free, voice mail, Caller ID, message waiting indicator, call
waiting, call forwarding and three-way calling at no charge.

Digital phones may be rented for $5.00 per month with a one-year
service agreement and rental agreement. In addition, digital phones
may also be purchased.

A new Traveler Option for an additional $5.00 per month provides
access for a nationwide roaming airtime rate of $0.50 per minute.

Mobile-to-mobile service, which offers unlimited airtime for customers
who communicate frequently with other digital phone users on the Bell
Atlantic Mobile network; now an additional $10.00 a month.

On price plans starting at $49.99 monthly access, customers will
receive an expanded home rate that includes CT, MA, RI, NH, VT, and
Upstate NY plus NY Metro.

Bell Atlantic Mobile bases DigitalChoice on Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA) technology and is the industry leader in deploying CDMA
service. This "next generation" wireless technology greatly reduces static
and crosstalk and uses a unique noise suppression technique that improves
voice quality. It also allows for greater call capacity on Bell Atlantic
Mobile's network. For more information, call 1-800-255-BELL.

Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest network in the East, covering
112,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to
wireless voice, data and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile
has 5.5 million customers and 7,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and,
through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at
Work" community relations program, the company uses its technology to help
individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications.
Bell Atlantic is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies,
with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments spanning Latin
America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic
Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global operations visit:
www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.