Acquisitions in Colombia Expand Wireless Footprint

Bellsouth Corp
14 June 2000

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Patricia Kushner 
BellSouth Corporation
404-249-2365 
[e-mail]


               BELLSOUTH EXPANDS LATIN AMERICAN WIRELESS FOOTPRINT
                        THROUGH ACQUISITIONS IN COLOMBIA

   Establishes National Footprint by Completing Acquisition of Controlling      
      Interest in Celumovil, Causing Celumovil Purchase of Cocelco

ATLANTA, GA (June 13, 2000) - BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS) announced today
that it is continuing to execute on its strategy to lead the Latin American
wireless industry by establishing the first national cellular footprint in
Colombia. BellSouth is entering the Colombian telecommunications market by
closing on the acquisition of a controlling interest in cellular provider
Celumovil, and causing Celumovil to enter into an agreement to purchase wireless
operator Cocelco.

'With today's announcement, BellSouth gains a presence in South America's second
most populous country and cements a strong partnership with Valores Bavaria
S.A., one of the leading business concerns in Latin America,' said Charles C.
Miller III, president of BellSouth International. 'We look forward to playing a
central role in the future growth of the Colombian communications market.'

Also announced today, BellSouth agreed to acquire the 16.55 percent of Celumovil
shares held by AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (AWE) and Chase Manhattan
International Finance Limited (Chase Manhattan). These transactions along with
the previously announced BellSouth acquisition of 33.8 percent interest in
Celumovil, will bring BellSouth's total ownership in Celumovil to 50.35 percent.
Closing on the Chase and Bavaria shares has occurred. The AWE transaction is
expected to close within the next few days.

Under BellSouth's leadership, Celumovil, reached a definitive agreement to
purchase Cocelco from its owners, led by a group of companies related to the
Organizacion Sarmiento, the major financial services organization in Colombia.
Cocelco, valued in the transaction with more than 200,000 subscribers (as of
April 2000), is the leading wireless telecommunications services operator in the
Western region of Colombia including the cities of Cali and Medellin.

'Cocelco has become the leading operator in the Western region because of the
dedication of its employees,' said Luis Carlos Sarmiento, president of Cocelco. 
'The entrance of BellSouth is great news for Cocelco and its employees and
represents a strong vote of confidence in Colombia's economic future.'

BellSouth Corporation, through Celumovil, will acquire Cocelco based on a total
net company valuation of approximately US$ 370 million. The transaction is
pending regulatory approval in Colombia and satisfaction of other agreed upon
conditions to closing. The purchase is expected to close later this year.

Through Celumovil and Cocelco, BellSouth will cover a combined total of nearly
41 million POPs through operations in the Eastern, Western and Atlantic license
regions of Colombia. With a young and growing population and with a relatively
low penetration rate in the telecommunications market (14% fixed line and 5%
wireless), Colombia offers significant growth opportunities in the wireless
services industry.


About Cocelco
Cocelco started operations in 1994 and provides wireless telecommunications
services in the Western region of Colombia with net revenues of US$ 84.8 million
in 1999. Cocelco's license covers approximately 14.9 million POPs and includes
the major Colombian urban centers Medellin, Cali, Manizales, Pereira and
Armenia. Cocelco's main shareholders include the Organizacion Sarmiento that
also has substantial investments in Grupo Aval, Colombia's leading financial
services organization accounting for approximately 20 percent of all Colombian
financial services assets.

About Celumovil
Celumovil started operations in July 1994 and is Colombia's second largest
wireless telephone provider with revenues of approximately US$ 213 million in
1999. Celumovil's presence in the Eastern and Atlantic regions comprises a
population of approximately 26 million POPs and six of the 10 largest cities in
Colombia, including Bogota, Baranquilla and Cartagena. BellSouth's partner in
Celumovil is Colombian-based industrial group Valores Bavaria S.A.

About BellSouth
BellSouth provides telecommunications services, including wireless, data,
Internet access, e-commerce, long distance and other communications services in
nine Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua,
Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Later this year, BellSouth will also begin
offering wireless communications service in Guatemala.

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) is a communications services company with more than $25
billion in annual revenues. It provides telecommunications services, Internet,
data and e>commerce applications, wireless communications, entertainment
services, and online and directory advertising to nearly 39 million customers in
20 countries worldwide.
                
  NOTE: For more information about BellSouth, visit our Web page at             
                    http://www.bellsouth.com/