WorldCom Fully Funds European Business Plan

CLINTON, Miss., READING, England - WorldCom, Inc. (WCOEQ, MCWEQ), today announced that its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) operations will continue to be fully funded and are expected to be cash flow positive in 2003. The company said it has developed a business plan that emphasizes profitability over revenue growth, consolidates the European network around its existing geographical footprint and offers streamlined voice, data and Internet services.

"We have made significant infrastructure investments in EMEA over the past few years," said John Sidgmore, WorldCom president and CEO. "We plan to leverage this solid foundation to ensure our long-term viability in this critical business region of the world. We believe our focus on profitability, coupled with a customer-centric approach, will be a win-win for WorldCom and those with whom we do business."

Core elements of WorldCom's new EMEA business plan include:

• Restructure and refocus the business to reflect current market conditions and the size and needs of the existing WorldCom EMEA network.
• Maintain core retail and wholesale voice, IP and data services while discontinuing certain unprofitable niche products.
• Reduce EMEA workforce to approximately 6,000 through a reduction of approximately 2,000 (subject to consultation with Works Councils).
• Minimal new infrastructure investment.

"With our world-class global assets, the ability to service new and existing customers as well as ever before, and a solid financial foundation, WorldCom EMEA continues to provide a leading competitive alternative to the marketplace," said Lucy Woods, WorldCom EMEA senior vice president. "Most importantly, our new approach will have a positive effect on our existing customers while allowing WorldCom EMEA to be better positioned for the future."

ABOUT WORLDCOM, INC.

WorldCom, Inc. (Nasdaq: WCOEQ, MCWEO) is a pre-eminent global communications provider for the digital generation, operating in more than 65 countries. With one of the most expansive, wholly-owned IP networks in the world, WorldCom provides innovative data and Internet services for businesses to communicate in today's market. In April 2002, WorldCom launched The Neighborhood built by MCI - the industry's first truly any-distance, all-inclusive local and long-distance offering to U.S. consumers for one fixed monthly price. For more information, go to http://www.worldcom.com.

ABOUT WORLDCOM EMEA

WorldCom EMEA is the reporting division comprising the business of WorldCom, Inc. outside the Americas and Asia Pacific. Headquartered in Reading, England, WorldCom EMEA operates in 25 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

WorldCom EMEA is focussed on offering voice, data and internet services to business customers across the region. Europe has approximately 150,000 customers, serviced by three retail sales channels and one wholesale sales channel. The retail channels address Global Accounts headquartered in EMEA (GAM channel), Major National and Pan-European Corporates (Corporate channel) and middle market Business Customers (Business markets channel) and sell the whole product portfolio. Africa and the Emerging Countries operate a single retail channel, selling the IP product portfolio. The wholesale sales channel sells to carriers, resellers and ISPs.