Dividend Declaration

Bellsouth Corp
24 February 2003



For Immediate Release

February 24, 2003

MEDIA RELATIONS: INVESTOR RELATIONS

BellSouth Corporation 1-800-241-3419

Jeff Battcher 404-249-2793

LeAnn Hansen 404-249-2839


                   BellSouth increases dividend five percent

                 Dividend raised 10.5 percent in last 12 months

Atlanta - The board of directors of BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS) today
approved a 5 percent increase in its dividend, declaring an increased quarterly
dividend of 21 cents per common share. Including the increase announced on June
24th 2002, the quarterly dividend has increased 10.5 percent in the last 12
months. The first-quarter dividend is payable May 1, 2003 to shareholders of
record as of the close of business on April 10, 2003.

BellSouth has nearly 1.9 billion shares outstanding in approximately one million
registered shareholder accounts. This is the 77th consecutive quarterly dividend
declared by BellSouth.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serving more than 44 million customers in the
United States and 14 other countries.

Consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full
array of broadband data solutions to large, medium and small businesses. In the
residential market, BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced
voice features and other services. BellSouth also offers long distance service
throughout its markets, serving both business and residential customers. The
company's BellSouth AnswersSM package combines local and long distance service
with an array of calling features; wireless data, voice and e-mail services; and
high-speed DSL or dial-up Internet service. BellSouth also provides online and
directory advertising services through BellSouth(R) RealPages.comSM and The Real
Yellow Pages(R).

BellSouth owns 40 percent of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest
wireless company, which provides innovative data and voice services.


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