BellSouth's Ackerman Delivers Keynote at TELECOMNEXT Conference
22 Mars 2006 - 5:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
- Proposed AT&T BellSouth Merger Will Create A New Company For
A New Day In Telecom - LAS VEGAS, March 22 /PRNewswire/ --
BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS) chairman and CEO Duane Ackerman
discussed the planned combination of AT&T and BellSouth as a
critical next step in the communications industry during his speech
today at the inaugural TELECOMNEXT conference. He asserted that the
merger will combine the strengths of two of the industry's best
companies, uniquely positioned to provide customers the newest
technologies. He also noted that in order to maintain the
pro-innovation momentum that exists in the communications sector,
policymakers must keep the Internet free from regulation. "After a
decade of change and turmoil, we now know that we are at the
beginning of a great new day for communications in America,"
Ackerman stated. "To help turn that promise into reality, AT&T
and BellSouth are joining together to create a new company for this
new day." Ackerman believes that the industry's direction is now
clear as service delivery is shifting from wireline to wireless and
from narrowband to IP broadband. This ongoing shift has resulted in
true convergence, which is allowing providers to deliver services
to customers with more speed, simplicity and reliability. "Our
charge as providers is to create easy-to-use products that manage
the complexity of technology so users don't have to," Ackerman
stated. "BellSouth has focused on getting the network ready for
whatever customers want to do. We've built one of the most advanced
fiber and DSL networks in the industry. Fifty percent of our
households will have access to 12 to 24 megabits of speed by the
end of 2007. That translates into 70 percent of the households in
our top 30 markets." As the broadband industry continues to evolve,
the appetite for bandwidth and the pace of technology will continue
to grow, and speed, security and reliability will become
increasingly important. To be successful, Ackerman said, providers
must build next generation networks that can handle the huge flows
of data and develop integrated capabilities to bring it all
together for customers in a way that is profitable for
shareholders. "This is a capital-intensive business and bringing it
all together for customers will take a smart investment strategy.
The challenge for communications companies is that as the life
cycle of technology has sped up, so has the cycle for a return on
investment," Ackerman said. "The combination of AT&T and
BellSouth creates economies of scale that will enable us to invest
in new technology and benefit from the substantial
cost-efficiencies the merger creates." According to Ackerman,
investors will benefit from the substantial cost- efficiencies the
merger will create by combining the innovative culture of AT&T
with BellSouth's state-of-the-art fiber and DSL networks, and
customers will see faster and more economic deployment of
next-generation IP networks. Businesses stand to gain from the
combination of AT&T's national and global network and
BellSouth's local expertise. In addition, government, including
military and national security agencies, will have a U.S.-based
provider of integrated services to respond to their needs anywhere
in the world. Ackerman also noted that if America wants an
ever-expanding Internet, providers must be able to manage their
networks according to the needs of customers. "Let me be clear," he
said. "Managing our networks is not about controlling where people
go on the Internet. Why would we want to violate our customers'
trust? It wouldn't take long for the market to punish us." The
issue, he said, is about managing the growing volumes of data on
communications networks and about ensuring the quality of service a
customer paid for. It is about delivering the greatest Internet
experience to the greatest number of people for the lowest cost.
"The business models underlying capital-intensive networks, whether
its telecom, cable or electric power, have always used
differentiated pricing, based on a range of customer needs,"
Ackerman noted. "And that business model needs to apply to new
technology. If we continue to lead communications policy into the
future, we will create an Internet that is more open and more
affordable for more people. And we will have the capital to make
sure that the sun keeps rising on American innovation." About
BellSouth BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications
company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint
control and 40 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's
largest wireless voice and data provider with 54.1 million
customers. Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth
offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and
data services available in the market. Through BellSouth
Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle
their local and long distance service with dial-up and high-speed
DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless
service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local
and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth
also offers print and online directory advertising through The Real
Yellow Pages(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) from BellSouth. BellSouth
believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are
critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global
marketplace. NOTE: In connection with the proposed merger, AT&T
intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4, including a
joint proxy statement of AT&T and BellSouth, and AT&T and
BellSouth will file other materials with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Investors are urged to read the
registration statement, including the joint proxy statement (and
all amendments and supplements to it) and other materials when they
become available because they contain important information.
Investors will be able to obtain free copies of the registration
and joint proxy statement, when they becomes available, as well as
other filings containing information about AT&T and BellSouth,
without charge, at the SEC's Web site (http://www.sec.gov/). Copies
of AT&T's filings may also be obtained for free from AT&T
at AT&T's Web site (http://www.att.com/) or by directing a
request to AT&T Inc. Stockholder Services, 175 E. Houston, San
Antonio, Texas 78205. Copies of BellSouth's filings may be obtained
without charge from BellSouth at BellSouth's Web site
(http://www.bellsouth.com/) or by directing a request to BellSouth
at Investor Relations, 1155 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia
30309. AT&T, BellSouth and their respective directors and
executive officers and other members of management and employees
are potential participants in the solicitation of proxies in
respect of the proposed merger. Information regarding AT&T's
directors and executive officers is available in AT&T's 2005
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2006 and
AT&T's proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of
stockholders, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2006, and information
regarding BellSouth's directors and executive officers is available
in BellSouth's 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC
on February 28, 2006 and BellSouth's proxy statement for its 2006
annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on March 3,
2006. Additional information regarding the interests of such
potential participants will be included in the registration and
joint proxy statement, and the other relevant documents filed with
the SEC when they become available. DATASOURCE: BellSouth
Corporation CONTACT: Jeff Battcher of BellSouth Corporation,
+1-404-713-0274, Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/
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