Bell Atlantic And Vodafone Airtouch Complete Combination of U.S. Wireless Businesses

NEW YORK AND LONDON — Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE:BEL) and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (NYSE and LSE: VOD) today announced that they have combined their U.S. cellular, paging and PCS businesses and formed a new nationwide competitor that will offer its wireless products and services coast-to-coast under a new brand name. All necessary approvals have been received. The companies first announced plans to combine their U.S. wireless businesses six months ago on September 21, 1999.

The new wireless company will be further strengthened following the completion of the Bell Atlantic - GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE) merger, which is targeted for later in the second quarter. Including additions from GTE's domestic wireless business, the new company will rank as the nation's largest wireless company by far, serving more than 23 million wireless and nearly 4 million paging customers. Its nationwide footprint will cover over 90 percent of the U.S. population and 96 of the top 100 U.S. wireless markets, with 232 million net POPs.

The Bell Atlantic-Vodafone AirTouch wireless agreement and the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger are independent transactions. The completion of one is not contingent upon completion of the other.

Prior to the close of this transaction, Bell Atlantic completed an exchange of wireless interests with ALLTEL Corp. (NYSE: AT), including certain dispositions of properties required by the Department of Justice in order to complete the transaction with Vodafone AirTouch.

Note to Editors:
Tomorrow, April 4, the new wireless company will hold a press conference and Webcast to announce a new, industry-leading pricing plan under a new national brand identity.

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