BellSouth Advanced Data Service Provides Security, Flexibility for Financial Service Companies

BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) today announced that banking institutions are relying on the provider's robust IP backbone to transmit sensitive financial data between locations.
The data networking solution, BellSouth(R) Managed Network VPN, connects 16 GB&T Bancshares, Inc. locations, including the company's data backup center nearly 200 miles from headquarters. The bank, headquartered in Gainesville, Ga., cites network flexibility and cost efficiency as key attributes of the service.
"With BellSouth's VPN service, GB&T Bancshares can cost effectively connect broadly dispersed locations and we have the flexibility to make network access decisions based on the needs of individual locations," said Paul Ballew, director of information technology, GB&T Bancshares, Inc.
Many businesses have the challenge of linking multiple office locations that are broadly distributed to corporate resources. Each location often has specific network access requirements and, in the past, companies have had to self-integrate and manage these disparate networks across the organization. BellSouth Managed Network VPN provides a managed, network-based solution and delivers full mesh connectivity and class of service to more efficiently route complex data applications across corporate networks. A managed, network-based firewall is available with the service and provides added security for financial institutions that also wish to securely access the Internet via the VPN.
The Managed Network VPN solution is based on MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching), a technology that BellSouth recently announced it will utilize to provide an advanced nationwide data service in 2006. The nationwide service will enable customers to link locations from coast to coast using the most flexible and reliable switching technology available.
Full mesh connectivity is a benefit of BellSouth Managed Network VPN that customers have examined more closely following the recent hurricanes in Florida and Louisiana. The network solution allows each individual location to route data directly to a secondary host site or any other location on the customer network, instead of transmitting through headquarters like traditional hub and spoke architected networks.
First National Bank and Trust of Louisville, Ga. was attracted to the service for its network flexibility and security, but the full mesh architecture also fit well with the company's disaster recovery planning.
"We scan operational data from 19 locations into a central data storage application," said Pat Brown, chief operating officer, First National Bank and Trust of Louisville. "If a location went down for any reason, our business would still have uninterrupted access to critical data - this fact is reassuring to our senior management, investors and customers."
BellSouth launched its Managed Network VPN solution in 2003 and it has been one of the company's fastest growing enterprise data products for the last two years. In addition to the financial services industry, BellSouth has implemented Managed Network VPN across market segments, including retail, healthcare, education and manufacturing.
"Customers desire simplified network solutions from a provider with a proven record of service and reliability," said Fred Shaftman, president, BellSouth Business. "Managed Network VPN allows businesses to focus on what they do best, while BellSouth manages the complexities of network integration."
For more information about BellSouth voice and data solutions for businesses, visit http://www.bellsouthlargebusiness.com.
About BellSouth Corporation
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 52.3 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) from BellSouth(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM)
BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com.

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