<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
Date of Report: January 15, 1999
Exact name of registrant
as specified in its charter: BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION
Commission File Number: 1-8606
State of Incorporation: Delaware
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.: 23-2259884
Address of principal
executive offices: 1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
Zip Code 10036
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code: (212) 395-2121
Former name or former address,
if changed since last report: Not applicable
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Item 5. Other Events
------------
Attached as an exhibit is a press release issued by Bell Atlantic Corporation on
January 15, 1999 announcing (a) the end of discussions with AirTouch
Communications relating to a possible business combination; and (b) selected
fourth quarter and 1998 operating and financial results for Bell Atlantic Global
Wireless.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
---------------------------------
(c) Exhibits.
99 Press Release, dated January 15, 1999 issued by Bell Atlantic
Corporation.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION
By: /s/ Doreen A. Toben
----------------------------------
Doreen A. Toben
Vice President - Controller
Date: January 19, 1999
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EXHIBIT 99
NEWS RELEASE [LOGO OF BELL ATLANTIC]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
January 15, 1999 Jim Gerace
- ----------------
908-306-7508
908-472-0700 (MOBILE)
[email protected]
Susan Kraus
212-395-0500
[email protected]
BELL ATLANTIC AND AIRTOUCH DISCUSSIONS END
_____________________________
GLOBAL WIRELESS PREVIEWS RECORD 4Q 1998 RESULTS
NEW YORK - Bell Atlantic (NYSE: BEL) announced today that its discussions with
Airtouch Communications (NYSE: ATI) relating to a possible business combination
have ended. The companies will continue their PrimeCo PCS and roaming
relationships.
Separately, Bell Atlantic Global Wireless continued its strong customer and
revenue performance in the fourth quarter 1998. Proportionate subscribers
increased 34 percent over fourth quarter 1997 to 8.5 million, with proportionate
net subscriber additions in the quarter totaling 731,000, 41 percent more than
in the prior-year period.
Total proportionate revenues for the group during the fourth quarter reached
$1.3 billion, a 28 percent increase over the prior year period. For the year,
proportionate revenue was $4.6 billion, a 25% increase over 1997.
Bell Atlantic's domestic wireless business (BAM) added 302,000 net subscribers
in the fourth quarter. BAM ended the year with 6.2 million customers, 16
percent higher than in 1997. BAM revenues for the year grew 12 percent to $3.5
billion. Cash flow margin was 45 percent in 1998, up from 43 percent in 1997.
The international wireless portfolio set new milestones for net subscriber
additions, revenue and operating cash flow. International proportionate
subscribers approached two million by year end, an increase of 141 percent over
1997. International proportionate revenues doubled to $276 million in 1998.
Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight million wireless
customers worldwide, 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.
####
INTERNET USERS: Bell Atlantic news releases, executive speeches, news media
contacts and other useful information are available at Bell Atlantic's News
Center on the World Wide Web (http://www.ba.com). To receive news releases by
email, visit the News Center and register for personalized automatic delivery of
Bell Atlantic news releases.
