Bell Atlantic Corp saw mobile phone revenues up by 25% last year, and boosted its subscriber base by the same amount. But Bell, clamoring to get into the long distance market, is having to gird itself for the forthcoming US telecoms wars, when the real competition kicks in, with a $300m charge for measures to bring itself into line with the telecommunications act. The Baby Bell is pessimistic about the year ahead, claiming that it will be a transitional period, in which it will be forced to be become a global player if it is to continue to deliver double digit revenue growth.
