BELLSOUTH & AT&T COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL YEAR 2000 TESTING
(Source; Grant Buckler, NEWSBYTES, 4/21/1999)

BELLSOUTH and AT&T have successfully completed a series of tests to make sure their telephone networks will work together as dates move from 1999 to 2000. The two companies said the extensive tests give them confidence not only that their own and each other's networks are Year 2000 ready, but that their links with other carriers should work properly as well. BellSouth and AT&T set out to recreate as nearly as possible conditions in the public switched telephone network, said BellSouth spokesman Clay Owen. The tests covered local and long-distance calls between wireline phones, between wireless phones, and from wirelines to wireless. The companies also tested 911 emergency services, toll-free, operator-assisted, calling-card, and international calls. The companies said the tests, which had run since September of last year, were 100 percent successful. Since regional Bell operating companies' networks are all quite similar, the tests conducted with BellSouth are "a very effective testbed" for determining the Year 2000 readiness of AT&T's links with BELL ATLANTIC, SBC COMMUNICATIONS, US WEST, and AMERITECH, as well as other local carriers. Owen believes that the results of the joint tests with AT&T also indicate there should be little trouble with other long-distance carriers such as MCI, WORLDCOM and SPRINT. The NETWORK RELIABILITY AND INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL, a body concerned with telecom industry readiness for the Year 2000 problem, has said the risk of problems is low in the U.S., but much higher in some other parts of the world. (JG)

Link: http://www.cnnfn.com/digitaljam/newsbytes/129569.html

-- Bill (billdale@lakesnet.net), May 02, 1999