LONDON - April 9, 2008 - BT today announced it will provide $1 million to support and train Brazilian adolescents on how to use a range of communication tools to influence decisions and to improve the quality of their schools and communities through its global development partnership with UNICEF.

This partnership - part of BT’s Better World campaign "“ is a three-year agreement to invest a total of $3 million into bringing education, technology and communications skills to children from poor socio-economic backgrounds in South Africa, Brazil and China.

Building on the success of the program in South Africa last year, the focus will now be expanded to include Brazil, where the BT and UNICEF partnership will support 10,000 adolescents across ten schools, in five of Brazil’s largest cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Fortaleza.

Communications tools and techniques such as the internet, radio, blogs, photography and video will help Brazilian adolescents to publicize campaigns to improve their schools and to shape public policies on health services, the environment, digital inclusion and other community issues. Video and blogs could, for example, be used to urge local officials to improve poor water and sanitation facilities.

The project will provide PCs, digital cameras and other equipment in schools. In addition, a dedicated web site will enable the adolescents to publish stories and photographs that illustrate their experiences and share learning with their peers.

UNICEF is advocating with the Brazilian Ministry of Education on this youth participation project, and is actively encouraging the Ministry to roll-out other youth participation projects at schools nationwide.

Luis Alvarez, President EMEA and Latin America, BT Global Services said: "Our global development partnership with UNICEF creates education environments where children receive the support they need to thrive. Access to information and communications technology can help to foster new skills, in turn enabling them to pass exams, get a job, play an active role in their communities, and achieve their goals in life. We have seen this happen in South Africa and we are committed to the same long-term social inclusion and sustainable economic development in Brazil."

Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Brazil Representative, said: "Brazil faces an enormous challenge in ensuring that children remain in school. Only four out of every ten students who start primary school actually complete secondary education. One of UNICEF’s priorities is to promote youth participation in their communities. To have access to communication tools and to be able to express their views are basic rights of adolescents. Furthermore, a UNICEF survey in 2006 found that adolescents in Brazil who participated in community activities appeared to be less susceptible to dropping out of school, teenage pregnancy and involvement with violence."

BT’s partnership with UNICEF in Brazil aims to engage adolescents in social issues that affect them, and to help make their school environments more stimulating, in order to reduce high dropout rates. By equipping these adolescents with communication and technology skills, BT and UNICEF will also be helping to strengthen their future job prospects, so that they have a better chance of success in their adult lives.

Luis Alvarez added: "BT is committed to making a positive and sustainable difference to the communities in which it operates. Our partnership with UNICEF enables them to develop the skills of young people at a very local level and ultimately to improve the futures of children around the world."

Notes to editors

BT’s partnership with UNICEF is part of BT’s Better World campaign. The Better World campaign aims to help all young people develop the communication skills they need to reach their full potential and achieve their life skills. BT’s partnership with UNICEF extends the reach of this campaign globally enabling BT to make a real difference to the lives of thousands of young people in need world-wide.

In 2007, phase one of the BT and UNICEF partnership provided 27 South African schools with PCs, computer labs and additional classrooms. In addition, 150 head teachers and administrators have been trained in effective school management and leadership skills. In 2009 the partnership will focus on China.

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT Group plc's revenue was £20,223 million with profit before taxation of £2,484 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt.

About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information, visit www.unicef.org.uk.

British Telecommunications Plc.

British Telecommunications Plc.

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services. In the UK, BT serves more than 20 million business and residential customers with more than 30 million exchange lines, as well as providing network services to other licensed operators.

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