61.   Industry executives said the merger talks reflected a recognition by Asian governments that they could no longer run their phone markets like isolated fiefs.

62.   It also has the fourth-largest phone market, trailing Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

63.   International phone markets are attractive because of their growth potential, he said.

64.   It also comes as lawmakers in Washington debate how to increase competition in the local phone market, which is largely controlled by the seven Baby Bells.

65.   It could establish a presence in the local phone market overnight by acquiring a competitive provider of local service, such as the Teleport Communications Group.

66.   Ironically, a big factor in the birth of the old phone market has been the Internet.

67.   It is only common sense that the long-distance phone market is competitive.

68.   It said the jobs cuts are aimed at slashing costs to prepare for increased competition in the long-distance phone market.

69.   Kagan noted that plenty of competition exists in other phone markets.

70.   Korea Telecom, its larger competitor, monopolizes the domestic inner-city phone market, while the two companies split the domestic long-distance and overseas phone markets.