GTE announces the launch of its new operating unit, GTE Internetworking; Internet pioneer BBN Corp. and GTE Intelligent Network Services combine to offer complete Internet Protocol networking services.

IRVING, Texas -- GTE Corp. today announced the launch of GTE Internetworking, its new operating unit. GTE Internetworking includes the recently acquired BBN Corp., which 28 years ago developed the ARPANET, the forerunner to today's Internet, and GTE Intelligent Network Services, which provides Internet services to residential and small business customers. The new operating unit will offer Internet services to residential and small business customers and Fortune 500 companies.

The acquisition of BBN and launch of GTE Internetworking are key components of GTE's data strategy, one of a series of steps the company is taking to be a market-leading provider of voice, video and data services.

"GTE Internetworking is uniquely positioned to offer our customers the only complete, integrated Internet services using Internet Protocol (IP) networking technologies," said George H. Conrades, corporate executive vice president and president of GTE Internetworking. "We're building upon BBN's technological heritage and capabilities plus GTE's customer base, expanding national footprint and diversified distribution channels. Our mission is to help customers improve their business processes through the integration of IP technologies and telecommunications."

GTE Internetworking will work closely with other GTE units, including GTE Communications Corp., the company's new national sales, service and marketing unit, and GTE Network services, its regulated local exchange carrier.
GTE Internetworking will offer a full spectrum of internetworking services including dial-up and dedicated Internet access, high-performance Web hosting, managed security, network management, systems integration and Web-based application and integration services.

The new division will have responsibility for engineering and combining facilities such as data centers and network infrastructure as well as integrating new capacity on the company's high-speed, fiber-optic network being constructed by Qwest Communications Corp. Additionally, through BBN Technologies, its research and development arm, GTE Internetworking will continue to provide funded research and development services in the area of Internet Protocol networking, security, speech recognition and other advanced technologies.

With revenues of more than $21 billion in 1996, GTE is one of the largest publicly held telecommunications companies in the world. In the United States, GTE offers local and wireless service in 29 states and long-distance service in all 50 states. GTE was the first among its peers to offer "one-stop shopping" for local, long-distance and Internet access services. Outside the United States, where GTE has operated for more than 40 years, the company serves approximately 7 million customers. GTE is also a leader in government and defense communications systems and equipment, directories and telecommunications-based information services, and aircraft-passenger telecommunications.

More information about GTE is available on the Internet at http://www.gte.com. The address for the GTE Internetworking home page is http://www.bbn.com, where
information about the GTE Internetworking service offerings can be obtained.

###

127(97)