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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ______ No ___X___

 

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	Investor Relations (55 61) 415-1140 ri@brasiltelecom.com.br
	Media Relations (55 61) 415-1378 cesarb@brasiltelecom.com.br

World's leading telecommunications operators form alliance to market
fixed-mobile convergence products to their 145 million customers

Brasília, Brazil, July 14, 2004 - BRASIL TELECOM S.A. (BOVESPA: BRT03/BRT04; NYSE: BTM) and BRASIL TELECOM PARTICIPAÇÕOES S.A. (BOVESPA: BRTP3/BRTP4; NYSE: BRP) announce that the Fixed-Mobile Convergence Alliance (FMCA) was inaugurated today with six of the world's leading telecommunications operators as founding members.

The Alliance was formed to accelerate the development of Fixed-Mobile Convergence products and services to the 122 million fixed network and 23 million mobile customers served by its founding members. It is fully anticipated that the Alliance will encourage other major telecommunications operators around the world to drive the development of convergence services.

Fixed-Mobile Convergence is a transition point in the telecommunications industry that will finally remove the distinctions between fixed and mobile networks, providing a superior experience to customers by creating seamless services using a combination of fixed broadband and local access wireless technologies to meet their needs in home, in the office and on the street.

The founding members of the FMCA include many of the most innovative fixed and mobile telecommunications operators, as follows:

• Brasil Telecom;

• British Telecom;

• Korea Telecom;

• NTT Com;

• Rogers Wireless;

• Swisscom.

"Brasil Telecom participates in this original initiative in order to, together with its FMCA partners, develop innovative solutions and provide fixed and mobile convergent services, so as to offer a superior customer experience", says Ricardo Sacramento, Chief Operations Officer of Brasil Telecom GSM.

British Telecom has assumed the role of initial Chair of the Alliance, which will rotate every 12 months. Rogers Wireless will take the role of Vice-Chair during this period.

In addition to the founding members of the Alliance, a further 15 telecommunications operators from around the world have already contacted the FMCA to express their interest in joining the Alliance.

One of the FMCA's key objectives will be to present a common message to the telecommunications equipment vendor community regarding the development of standardsbased terminal and infrastructure equipment.

The members of the Alliance have been working together for several months and collaborated and shared information in the areas of concept development, experiences in different markets as well as new Convergence products and services.

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