50% of Ocean Communications to be Acquired

British Telecommunications PLC
19 January 2000



        BT TO BUY PARTNERS' 50 PER CENT SHARE OF OCEAN


  BT today announced that it has agreed with Ireland's

 Electricity Supply Board and US insurance group AIG to

 acquire their 50 per cent shareholding in Ocean

 Communications Ltd for around £130 million. BT continues to

 be pleased with the performance of Ocean and will support its

 rapid development in the fast-growing Irish telecoms market.

     A BT spokesman said: 'BT is happy to have brought a period

 of uncertainty to an end, and Ocean's customers, management and

 employees can now look forward to a successful future for the company 
 
 as part of the BT group.'