BellSouth signs up2.8 million long-distance customers

One year after receiving permission to offer long distance in the majority of its local territory, BellSouth has signed up 2.8 million long-distance customers, company officials said. Last September, BellSouth received approval from the FCC to offer long-distance in seven of the nine states in its RBOC territory. By the end of 2002, BellSouth added the final two states, Tennessee and Florida, to its long-distance platform. The 2.8 million customers represent 19% of its total local residential customers and 29% of its business customers. BellSouth also has 2.1 million customers using its bundled services, combining DSL or Cingular wireless services with local and long-distance service.