Bell Atlantic Steps Up Deployment Of High-Speed, Broadband Data Network

Bell Atlantic Steps Up Deployment Of High-Speed, Broadband Data Network

Company Selects Suppliers To Enhance the Most Competitive
State-of-the-Art System in the Region

March 30, 1998

NEW YORK - Businesses looking for the most futuristic, reliable and
efficient network for increasingly intensive data applications need
look no further than Bell Atlantic.

The corporation today announced its response to the explosion in
demand for an anytime, anywhere system with a five year, $1.5 billion
construction investment accelerating its next generation broadband
data network. The system will empower customers to maximize as never
before the entire range of on-line applications and many more
data-intensive tasks ranging from data storage to video conferencing
to the Internet.

"We are dedicating even more resources to the new applications that
our customers want because we're committed to offering top quality
service and products," said Lawrence T. Babbio, president and
CEO, Network Group and chairman, Global Wireless Group, Bell Atlantic.
"Customers must have the highest-speed, highest bandwidth connections
available, delivered on state-of-the-art technology."

Five companies - CIENA Corp., DSC Communications
Corporation, Fujitsu
Network Communications, Inc., Lucent
Technologies and Tellabs, Inc. -
have been selected to supply advanced telecommunications transmission
technology to meet the needs of high-bandwidth customers.

"Our aggressive investment in this powerful, leading-edge technology
will differentiate us from the competition, attract new customers and
convince those who've tried the competition that we're the best
choice," Babbio said. "This strategy underscores our unswerving
commitment to provide unmatched speed, reliability and flexibility in
the data marketplace."

Babbio said there is immense strength in the combined purchasing power
of the new Bell Atlantic. As a result, customers will benefit from
the savings achieved in the five-year supplier agreements.

"We expect these agreements to take us more than halfway to our annual
synergy savings target of $300 million as the result of the merger,"
Babbio said.

Bell Atlantic issued a request for proposal (RFP) for network
transport equipment last year. Under the vendor agreements based on
this RFP, Bell Atlantic will purchase:

• SONET optical loop extensions that deliver high speed signals
  directly to customers' premises from the backbone network.

• OC-3, OC-12, OC-48 and OC-192 SONET transmission systems that
  collect voice and data signals from telephone offices and convert them
  to higher speed signals for transmission on the network. For example,
  OC-192 technology enables transmission of more than 100,000
  simultaneous conversations over a single fiber pair. This technology
  will expand the already impressive array of network transmission
  products available today on Bell Atlantic's state-of-the-art network.

• Digital cross connects, which act as a kind of switch for high
  capacity systems, efficiently routing voice and data traffic through
  many types of network equipment.

• Dense wavelength division multiplexers, a leading-edge technology
  that combines multiple paths of light carrying voice and data into a
  single fiber optic path. The system makes possible tremendous
  efficiencies and cost savings by allowing much higher volumes of voice
  and data traffic to move over fewer fiber pairs. Bell Atlantic is one
  of the first local exchange carriers to integrate this innovative
  approach in its advanced network.

• Element management systems, a combination of hardware and software
  that maps proper paths for data and voice signals, monitors network
  performance and provides warnings of potential network problems.

Under the agreements, Fujitsu will provide SONET optical loop
extensions and add-drop multiplexers. DSC and Tellabs will supply
digital cross connect systems. CIENA Corp. was chosen to supply dense
wavelength division multiplexing equipment. Bell Atlantic has
selected Lucent Technologies to provide SONET optical loop extensions,
add-drop multiplexers and dense wavelength division multiplexers.

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six 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 21 countries.