Eurotel Praha 1996 Results Prove Wireless Success in Czech Republic

Eurotel Praha 1996 Results Prove Wireless Success in Czech Republic

April 11, 1997

Prague, The Czech Republic - For Bell Atlantic's wireless investment

in the Czech Republic, 1996 financial and operational results led

EuroTel Praha to its most successful year since it began service in

1991.

Revenues from operations reached nearly (Czech crowns) CZKc4.64

billion (approximately US$171 million) in 1996 compared with 1995

CZKc2.98 billion - a growth of CZKc1.66 billion. The company had a

net profit of CZKc435 million.

EuroTel Praha invested CZKc2.65 billion in its network infrastructure

in 1996, CZKc1.73 billion higher than in 1995 CZKc924 million.

The company's combined EuroTel Classic (analog service) and EuroTel

GSM Global (digital service) customers nearly tripled in 1996 to

approximately 160,000 . As of March 31, 1997, EuroTel Praha had

204,000 customers - EuroTel Classic with 64,500 customers and EuroTel

GSM Global with 139,500 customers.

EuroTel's analog service covers 96 percent of the licensed territory

in the Czech Republic and 98 percent of its population. The company's

digital service provides service to 79 percent of the country's

population.

During 1996, EuroTel Praha extended roaming agreements to 44 carriers

in 31 countries, including Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic,

Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Italy.

"Customer demand for mobile phones surpassed our initial estimates for

1996," said Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of EuroTel

Praha, Mac Allman. "In fact, the Czech Republic is now among the

fastest growing wireless markets in Europe."

EuroTel Praha spol. s.r.o. is a joint venture between Czech state

telephone company SPT Telecom, a.s. (51%), and partnership Atlantic

West B.V. (49%) which is owned equally by Bell Atlantic and U S WEST

International.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new

communications, entertainment and information industry. In the

mid-Atlantic region, the company's telephone company subsidiaries are

the premier providers of local telecommunications and advanced

services. Globally, it is one of the largest investors in the

high-growth wireless 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.

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