With fourth quarter earnings in line with analysts’ estimates, MCI Communications Corp said that annual volume growth in long distance business was 8% in the quarter, down from 13% for the year. The company said efficiencies drove 1996 operating income up 25% from a year ago, excluding special items. Revenues in long distance grew 10% in the fourth quarter and 12% for all of 1996. Intergrating and simplifying MCI’s product portfolio with services like MCI One and and networkMCI One has delivered rich dividends to our customers and has resulted in increased operating efficiencies for MCI, said chief executive Gerald Taylor. He added that MCI had managed to target high value customers without losing existing clients in the mass long distance market. Concert did $165m in the fourth quarter, up more than $65m from a year ago.
