Fthr re Growth Projections

Bellsouth Corp
31 January 2001

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Jeff Battcher                              Pattie Kushner
[phone]                             [phone]

BELLSOUTH REITERATES 2001 GUIDANCE AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL DETAIL

ATLANTA - January 31, 2001, BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS) today reiterated
its previous guidance for certain key financial and business metrics in 2001 as
follows:

Earnings per share                                7-9% growth
Total operating revenue, including Cingular       9-11% growth
Data revenue                                      30% growth (approx)
Capital expenditures                              $5.5 -6.0 billion
DSL high-speed Internet customers                 600,000 at 12/31/01


Based on the achievement of these targets, normalized diluted earnings per share
would range between $2.35 - $2.40 for the year. Although the company does not
provide quarterly guidance, it stated that earnings growth will be higher in the
second half of the year than the first half. Expansion of its data and
international wireless businesses will produce expenses for the deployment of
DSL and e-centers, and for the Colombia wireless market, that were not incurred
in the first half of 2000.

In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking
statements regarding events and financial trends. Factors that could affect
results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements include: (i) a change in economic
conditions in domestic or international markets where we operate or have
material investments which would affect demand for our services; (ii) the
intensity of competitive activity and its resulting impact on pricing strategies
and new product offerings; and (iii) higher than anticipated cash requirements
for investments, new business initiatives and acquisitions. The forward-looking
information in this document is given as of this date only, and BellSouth
assumes no duty to update this information.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications services company
headquartered in Atlanta, GA, serving more than 44 million customers in the
United States and 16 other countries.

consistently recognized for customer satisfaction, BellSouth provides a full
array of broadband data and e-commerce solutions to business customers,
including Web hosting and other Internet services. In the residential market,
BellSouth offers DSL high-speed Internet access, advanced voice features and
other services. BellSouth also provides online and directory advertising
services, including BellSouth (R) Real PagesSM.com. BellSouth owns 40 percent of
Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless company, which provides
innovative wireless data and voice services.