NYNEX Global Systems Awarded ISO 9001 Certification

June 23, 1997

CONTACT:
David Frail (David_Frail@SMTP.)

NYNEX Corporation, (212) 395-0500

NYNEX Global Systems Awarded ISO 9001 Certification

Company Cited for Quality Program Management of FLAG Cable System

NEW YORK--NYNEX Global Systems has received the international business world's
prized quality award, ISO 9001 certification, for its project management of FLAG
(Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe).

FLAG is the world s longest undersea fiberoptic cable, spanning 28,000 kilometers
(17,000 miles) and connecting Western Europe to Asia via the Middle East. NYNEX Global
Systems is responsible for managing all design review, construction, installation
and technical support activities for FLAG.

Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, Ltd., a third-party registrar, certified
NYNEX Global Systems after thoroughly assessing its compliance to ISO 9001 Quality
System requirements.

"FLAG is one of the largest and most complex engineering feats in history,
and we are proud to have met the highest quality standards in managing this project,"
said Daniel C. Petri, president of NYNEX Global Systems and acting chairman of FLAG.
"Our suppliers and subcontractors are to be commended for working with us to
design, build, manufacture and install a world-class fiberoptic cable system in accordance
with the stringent ISO standards."

The Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a worldwide
federation of national standards bodies with members from more than 100 countries,
was founded to promote development of international standards. Established in 1987
to create universally agreed-upon quality standards and measures, the ISO 9001 Quality
Standard is internationally recognized as a "model for quality assurance in
design, development, production, installation and servicing."

Petri added that achieving ISO certification demonstrates Global Systems'
ongoing commitment to deliver quality products and services on time and within budget.

Using the most advanced optical fiber technologies, FLAG will serve the explosive
growth in demand for worldwide voice, Internet and other data traffic by connecting
the United Kingdom to Japan through landing points in Spain, Italy, Egypt, the United
Arab Emirates, Thailand, India, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Korea. The cable system
is on schedule for commercial operation in 1997.

Editors Note:

The 28,000-kilometer (17,000-mile) FLAG -- the world's longest undersea fiber
optic cable -- will serve the explosive growth in demand for worldwide voice, Internet
and other data traffic by connecting Japan to the United Kingdom through landing
points in Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, India, the United Arab Emirates,
Egypt, Italy and Spain. FLAG recently completed the undersea portions of the cable,
and is currently testing and commissioning sections. FLAG is on schedule to launch
operations later this year.

NYNEX, the managing sponsor of FLAG, is a global communications and media
corporation that provides a full range of services in the northeastern United States
and high-growth markets around the world. Other sponsors and shareholders of the
privately financed project are: the Dallah Al-Baraka Group of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,
a large multinational investment company; Marubeni Corporation, one of Japan's leading
general trading companies; Gulf Associates Inc., a New York-based corporation that
focuses on trade and project development; Telecom Holding Co., Ltd., a wholly owned
subsidiary of TelecomAsia, the largest market-capitalized company on the stock exchange
of Thailand; The Asian Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Hong Kong, a $1 billion fund
that invests in entities engaged in developing and operating infrastructure projects
in Asia; and GE Capital Services, a diversified financial services company wholly
owned by General Electric Company and headquartered in Stamford, CT.