AT&T Commences Commercial Operations in India

New Delhi, India — AT&T Global Network Services India (AT&T India), a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Mahindra Telecommunications Investment Private Ltd., has launched its commercial business in India. This follows the company’s announcement in November 2006, when AT&T became the first foreign telecom operator to secure new telecommunications licenses under the Indian government’s revised policy on foreign direct investment (FDI) which allows up to 74 percent foreign ownership.

“(The) announcement is a major milestone for the new India business,” said V.S. Gopi Gopinath, the recently appointed vice president of AT&T Asia Pacific. “India is a high-priority market for just about every global MNC, and the increasingly competitive telecom landscape will be a major factor in helping to attract further MNC investment and expansion into India. AT&T is strongly positioned in India to directly meet their telecommunication needs. AT&T is investing US$750 million in 2007 to support our global customers. This will help AT&T to provide our global customers with consistent services worldwide and help drive their business growth.”

Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, minister of communications and IT in welcoming the launch said, “We are pleased that AT&T — the world’s largest communications company — is increasing its commitment and capabilities in India through its own licenses. Their offerings will definitely increase the competitiveness of IT enterprises and IT users who need world class, state-of-the art global connectivity. For its part, the Government of India, through its policies, will ensure that India continues to be an investor friendly destination for global telecommunications companies”.

In recent months the company has focused on preparations to ensure the company’s new customers have an excellent experience with AT&T. “Having successfully completed the transition of our global customers to the new company, we look forward to serving them with a broader range of advanced networking services and solutions,” Mr. Gopinath said.

“AT&T, the world’s largest communications company provides the highest quality services to its customers. AT&T India’s mission is for our customers in India to benefit from the same quality, choice and flexibility as AT&T customers the world over,” Gopinath added.

AT&T has been investing in the AT&T Global Network since 2001 and now has access to MPLS-based IP services in 137 countries around the world. AT&T is the first foreign carrier to obtain telecom licenses in China and India. In addition to obtaining telecommunications licenses in India in 2006, AT&T is expanding its global network reach further with the addition of network nodes in Malaysia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Cyprus, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, as well as new network interconnections giving greater reach to the Nordics, Russia, Brazil, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.