BEIJING, September 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- Agreement Extends Benefits for Multinational Customers in China

Verizon Business' multinational customers now have seamless connectivity
to China Telecom's Next Convergence Network (CN2), a next-generation IP
platform that covers more than 200 cities and 600 routers within China.
Access to CN2 effectively extends the benefits of Verizon Business' own
expansive IP backbone network and portfolio of global IP and mobile devices,
services and solutions across the fast-growing Chinese market.

Verizon Business has been working with China Telecom on MPLS VPN since
2004, enabling full interconnectivity between the Verizon Private IP global
network and China Telecom's national MPLS network. Hundreds of multinational
customers in China already use more than 600 connections to leverage the
power and global reach of the combined China Telecom/Verizon Private IP
networks.

Verizon Business customers were among the first nondomestic customers to
be granted access to the new China Telecom Next Convergence Network. CN2 has
backbone core nodes located in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Nanjing,
Shanghai, Wuhan and Xian.

John Killian, president, Verizon Business, commented: "China is widely
acknowledged as a high-growth economy, and therefore is a strategic focus
area for many of Verizon Business' global customers. Connectivity to CN2
allows us to seamlessly extend the high quality of features and services we
already offer over the Verizon Business global IP network directly into the
Chinese market. For our multinational customers based in or expanding into
China, this clearly demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting their
expanding voice and data communications requirements.

"We focus on helping our global customers realize their own business
objectives. Our partnership with China Telecom enables us to deliver on our
commitment to companies doing business in China and the rest of the world."

Verizon Business through its predecessor companies has been operational
in China since 1993, and today has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzhou. Working in cooperation with leading Chinese service providers, the
company delivers a full-service portfolio, from leased-line to MPLS/VPN
services, to Chinese-based operations of its multinational customers.

Verizon Business is also the only U.S.-based member of a consortium that
is building the first next-generation undersea optical cable system directly
linking the U.S. mainland and China. The new system, to be named
Trans-Pacific Express (TPE), will use the latest optical technology to
provide greater capacity and higher speeds to meet the dramatic increase in
demand for IP. Initial parties of the consortium include - in addition to
China Telecom and China Netcom - China Unicom, Korea Telecom and Chunghwa
Telecom (Taiwan). The TPE cable will provide more diversity from other
undersea routes and more efficient connections to a number of countries in
Asia where Verizon Business has large-business customers.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a
leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT)
solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining
unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and
other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative
and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more
information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

Web site: http://www.verizonbusiness.com