North Philadelphia Customers Move Into the 21st Century

September 18, 1996

North Philadelphia Customers Move Into the 21st
Century

Bell Atlantic Installs Digital Equipment

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Telephone customers will take a
giant step into
the future when Bell Atlantic activates state-of-the-art digital
equipment in their north Philadelphia switching center located at 3429
N. 17th Street. This is another step in Bell Atlantic's commitment
to ensure that all customers in its service area have digital
capability by the turn of the century.

The analog to digital conversion will take place at 2:00 a.m.,
Saturday, September 21. The new digital switch, will serve 41,000
telephone lines in Hunting Park, Tioga, Nicetown, Fairhill and parts
of Strawberry Mansion.

Digital technology has a number of advantages over analog technology,
including clearer, higher quality and faster transmission speeds. The
new switch also will allow subscribers to transmit voice, data and
video simultaneously over a single phone line.

Customers may notice a slight difference in the way their telephone
service sounds. For example, dial tone will be free of clicks or
background sounds. For those customers with Call Waiting, the
clicking signal will be replaced by a soft tone. On long distance
calls, the clicking sound now heard as the call is being completed
will disappear.

The following telephone exchanges will benefit from the new
technology: 221, 223, 225, 226, 227,
228, 229, 580, 684, 685 and 707.

Bell Atlantic-Pennsylvania
has moved aggressively to modernize its
telecommunications network by deploying intelligent
signaling , digital switching, and approximately 561,000 miles of
fiber optic cable.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE:
BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider 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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Media contact:

Sharon Shaffer (215) 963-6200
sharon.b.shaffer@bell-atl.com