Telco Systems Acquired from World Access

BATM Advanced Communications Ld
10 April 2000


                      BATM ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
                                    
          COMPLETES PURCHASE OF TELCO SYSTEMS FROM WORLD ACCESS
   
   BATM  Advanced  Communications Acquires Telco Systems  in  a  Deal
   Valued at $330 Million
        
   ATLANTA,  GEORGIA  - April 7, 2000 - World Access,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:
   WAXS)  announced  today that it has completed the  sale  of  Telco
   Systems,  Inc.  to  BATM Advanced Communications  Limited  (London
   Stock  Exchange:  BVC)  for $260.8 million  in  cash  and  960,000
   shares   of   BATM  stock.   Telco  Systems,  based  in   Norwood,
   Massachusetts,   manufactures   network   transport   and   access
   solutions   for  leading  telecommunications  service   providers.
   BATM,  based  in  Rosh  Ha'ayn, Israel,  is  a  fast-growing  data
   communications  technology company that is quickly establishing  a
   global  leadership position in next generation data communications
   equipment,   including   edge   access   devices,   multi-protocol
   switches,  fiber-based networking equipment and IP  mux  switching
   solutions.
        
   John  D.  Phillips, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  of  World
   Access,  said, 'The sale of Telco Systems represents a  major  step
   in  our  plan to add approximately $450 million in net cash to  our
   balance  sheet  through  the divestiture of  our  Equipment  Group.
   This financial strength should allow us to aggressively pursue  our
   strategy to establish a leadership position in the rapidly  growing
   European  telecommunications market.  With our recent  acquisitions
   of  FaciliCom  International  and  NETnet  International,  and  our
   pending  mergers  with  Star  Telecommunications  and  WorldxChange
   Communications,  World Access will likely have  an  annual  service
   revenue  run  rate in excess of $2.5 billion.  We expect  the  Star
   and  WorldxChange  mergers to close early in the third  quarter  of
   this year.'
         
        'BATM   designs   and  manufactures  high  performance   data
   communications  systems  that have been consistently  praised  for
   their  innovative  technology  and  high  quality.    We've   been
   extremely  impressed  with BATM's financial performance  over  the
   past  year  and believe that Dr. Marom and his team will  continue
   to  develop  revolutionary  new switching  and  integrated  access
   solutions  that will quickly establish them as a major  player  in
   the worldwide data and telecommunications markets.'
   
        Dr.  Zvi  Marom,  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  BATM,  said,
   'BATM's  acquisition  of  Telco Systems  is  consistent  with  our
   stated  strategy of establishing a stronger presence in  the  U.S.
   telecommunications  equipment markets.  Telco System's  innovative
   EdgeLink  products  naturally  complement  BATM's  switching   and
   access  solutions that cater to the network edge.  On  a  combined
   basis,  we  anticipate  that our bundled  service  offerings  will
   become   a  compelling   proposition  to  all  telecoms  companies
   involved  in developing the next generation of high speed telecoms
   services.    Furthermore, Telco System's direct  sales  force  and
   well-developed  direct  and indirect sales  channels  establish  a
   broad  sales  and marketing presence for BATM, especially  in  the
   United States telecommunications equipment markets.  We intend  to
   utilize   Telco   System's  customer  development  and   retention
   programs as a basis for further retail account growth.'
   
         In   December  1999,  World  Access  announced  that  it  was
   pursuing strategic alternatives for its Equipment Group as part  of
   a  strategy  to concentrate on the international telecommunications
   services  market.   In  December, the Galaxy  Engineering  Services
   Division  was  sold  to a private investment group.   Earlier  this
   week,  the  Wireless Local Loop Division was sold to  Nera  ASA,  a
   Norwegian   equipment  manufacturer.   The  Company  continues   to
   evaluate offers for its NACT Switching Division.
         
   About BATM
   BATM   Advanced  Communications  designs  and  manufactures   data
   communications equipment primarily for use in local and wide  area
   networks.   Building on the success of its Titan T4, a LAN  switch
   which   supports   the  new  small  form  factor   optical   fiber
   connections to the desktop, BATM has recently launched  Titan  T5,
   capable  of twice the switching capacity of the Titan  T4.   These
   products  combine fast switching with high levels  of  flexibility
   of  network  connectivity  across  both  copper  and  fiber  optic
   networks, including recent vDSL modules.  Additionally,  BATM  has
   been  developing a non-blocking Titan T6 switch,  a  prototype  of
   which  was recently profiled at the Geneva Telecom Show in October
   1999.   This  generic  switch demonstrated non-blocking  switching
   capacity  of 256 gigabit.  As a next generation product,  BATM  is
   working  on  the development of a photonic switch, the  Titan  T8,
   capable  of  switching  optical  signals  without  conversion   to
   electronic  form.    For  additional information  regarding  BATM,
   please refer to the company's website at www.batm.com.
   
   About World Access
   World  Access  is focused on being a leading provider  of  bundled
   voice,  data  and Internet services to key regions of  the  world.
   The   company  competitively  provides  end-to-end  communications
   services  through its redundant digital network which  is  capable
   of  supporting  voice  and data services, including  frame  relay,
   Internet  Protocol  (IP),  asynchronous transfer  mode  (ATM)  and
   multimedia  applications.  Located  strategically  throughout  the
   U.S.  and  13  European countries, World Access' network  backbone
   consists  of  gateway and tandem switches, linked by an  extensive
   fiber  network  encompassing tens of millions  of  circuit  miles.
   For  additional information regarding World Access,  please  refer
   to the Company's website at www.waxs.com.
   
   This  press  release  may contain financial projections  or  other
   forward-looking  statements  made  pursuant  to  the  safe  harbor
   provisions  of the Securities Reform Act of 1995.  Such statements
   involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results  to
   differ  materially.  These risks include: potential  inability  to
   identify,  complete  and integrate acquisitions;  difficulties  in
   expanding  into  new business activities; delays  in  new  service
   offerings;   the   potential  termination   of   certain   service
   agreements  or  the  inability to enter  into  additional  service
   agreements;  and  other  risks  described  in  the  Company's  SEC
   filings,  including the Company's Annual Report on Form  10-K  for
   the  year  ended December 31, 1999 and the Company's  Registration
   Statement  on  Form  S-3   (No.  333-43497),  both  of  which  are
   incorporated by reference into this press release.
   
   
   For further information please contact:
   
   BATM Advanced Communications
   Dr Zvi Marom, Chief Executive                  Tel [phone]
   Ofer Bar-Ner, Chief Financial Officer
   
   World Access                                   http://www.waxs.com
   Michael F. Mies, Senior Vice President -       Tel [phone]
   Finance & Treasurer
   
   Ludgate Communications
   Edward Macquisten                              Tel: [phone]