Bell Atlantic and Vanco Euronet Form Strategic Marketing Alliance to Serve Multi-National Data Market. Companies to Offer Comprehensive Managed Data Network Services to Businesses in U.S. and Europe - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, August 2, 1999

Bell Atlantic and Vanco Euronet, a leading provider of network solutions in Europe, have formed a strategic marketing alliance to serve the data needs of multi-national companies.

The move will enable Bell Atlantic's Data Solutions Group and Vanco Euronet to provide a comprehensive suite of managed, end-to-end data services to their multi-national customers in the States or Europe.

Bell Atlantic and Vanco Euronet will jointly develop marketing plans, strategies and proposals for bids and promote each other's services through the use of co-branded marketing materials. The companies also will work together to design customized data network solutions that can be seamlessly integrated with the local telecommunications company's network. In addition, the companies will establish a single point of contact for each customer as well as provide co-branded customer service, network management, round-the-clock technical support and consulting services.

"This is a significant step in our goal to deliver a total package of managed data services to the growing number of customers that do business on both sides of the Atlantic," said Joe Farina, president and chief executive officer of Bell Atlantic's Data Solutions Group. "We are forming a powerful combination that will enable Bell Atlantic and Vanco Euronet to share resources and enrich our ability to provide customers with a single, seamless data solution whether they're based in Hell's Kitchen or Helsinki."

Bell Atlantic's Data Solutions Group and Vanco Euronet are recognized throughout the industry as leaders in data networking. The Data Solutions Group has over 30 offices and 3,000 customers throughout the U.S.

Vanco Euronet is the leading independent provider of managed wide area networks with customers throughout 19 countries in Europe. Vanco Euronet specializes in provisioning and managing high quality, business critical corporate networks encompassing data, voice, video and fax services as well as Internet technology and security.

"We pride ourselves in understanding the needs of our customers and in designing a customized network solution that helps our customers operate efficiently and effectively," said Allen Timpany, chief executive officer of Vanco Euronet. "This new alliance will further strengthen the relationships each company has formed with its clients and greatly enhance our ability to attract new business."

Maureen Piche, vice president of business development for Bell Atlantic's Data Solutions Group, said, "The telecommunications market is ripe for this kind of service offering. More and more businesses are looking to companies like Bell Atlantic and Vanco Euronet to design and manage their multi-national data networks."

Piche said Bell Atlantic's multi-national customers will benefit from Vanco Euronet's strong operational presence throughout Europe. Vanco Euronet has Network Operations Centers in the United Kingdom, Madrid, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, where technical experts monitor and troubleshoot data networks of client companies. In addition, Vanco Euronet has customer representatives in each of the 19 countries it serves and is well positioned to operate in the local environment.

Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group (DSG) http://www.ba-dsg.com is dedicated to providing globally integrated network solutions that seamlessly connect businesses with their customers, partners and employees. DSG provides all aspects of data networking from the management and operation of customer networks and network integration, to network transport and advanced IP services such as intranets and extranets, virtual private networks, web hosting and multimedia services.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines and nearly 10 million wireless customers world-wide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries. FMI: http://www.ba.com.

Vanco Euronet is the market leading dedicated provider of network services, operating throughout 19 European countries. Vanco Euronet provides the full range of services needed to design, supply, implement and manage networks. This includes all aspects of local and wide area networking, e-Business and e-Commerce application development and e-Security.