When the expansion plan is complete, BellSouth.net service would be available in 17 new markets, providing Internet access to a total of 64 Southeastern markets.

Ray Smets, BellSouth.net president, said the extension of Internet services to smaller markets would be a big part of local e-commerce growth in the Southeast.

"The expansion of BellSouth.net Internet service deeper into smaller markets in the Southeastern US demonstrates our commitment to our region's exploding needs for Internet and data services," Smets said.

"We believe that a strong Internet service in smaller cities around our region will benefit the local economy by providing our customers improved means of communicating, learning, entertainment, and doing business on the Internet," Smets added.

BellSouth.net service will be available in large and small cities throughout BellSouth's coverage area.

BellSouth.net currently provides Internet access to more than 650,000 subscribers throughout nine Southeast United States.

BellSouth is a $25 billion communications services company providing telecommunication and Internet services to more than 36 million customers in 19 countries worldwide.

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