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[WORLD ACCESS LOGO]

                 WORLD ACCESS TO FILE FOR CHAPTER 11 PROTECTION

Atlanta, Georgia - April 24, 2001 - WORLD ACCESS, INC. (NASDAQ: WAXS) announced
today that its Board of Directors approved the filing of voluntary petitions for
Chapter 11 relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern
District of Illinois, Eastern Division, on behalf of World Access and certain of
its U.S. subsidiaries. The Company expects to make the filings today.

         As previously announced, on April 4, 2001, three holders of World
Access' 13.25% Senior Notes due 2008 commenced an involuntary bankruptcy case
against the Company, and the Company has been in discussions with the
noteholders regarding a possible restructuring of the Company's obligations
since before that filing. In addition, on April 5, 2001, Deutsche Telekom
disconnected circuits used by TelDaFax AG, which is 33% owned by World Access,
effectively cutting off service to most of TelDaFax's German customers. Although
service was subsequently restored, World Access' management concluded that great
harm had been caused to the commercial prospects of TelDaFax. In light of the
loss of TelDaFax's commercial prospects and the inability to reach a resolution
with the noteholders that does not involve remaining in bankruptcy, the Chapter
11 filing is being made in cooperation with the noteholders and effectively
converts the involuntary case into a structure in which the Company's management
will work with the noteholders to finalize a plan for the sale of the Company's
operations. World Access has engaged UBS Warburg to assist it in evaluating
potential acquirers of the Company's various business units.

ABOUT WORLD ACCESS

         World Access provides end-to-end international communication services
over an advanced asynchronous transfer mode internal network that includes
gateway and tandem switches, an extensive fiber network encompassing tens of
millions of circuit miles and satellite facilities. For additional information
regarding World Access, please refer to the Company's website at www.waxs.com.

     THIS PRESS RELEASE MAY CONTAIN FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OR OTHER
     FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MADE PURSUANT TO THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF
     THE SECURITIES REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISKS AND
     UNCERTAINTIES WHICH MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY. THESE
     RISKS INCLUDE: INABILITY TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE FINANCING OR FINANCING ON TERMS
     ACCEPTABLE OR FAVORABLE TO THE COMPANY; INABILITY TO RESTRUCTURE EXISTING
     DEBT OBLIGATIONS; POTENTIAL INABILITY TO IDENTIFY, COMPLETE AND INTEGRATE
     ACQUISITIONS; DIFFICULTIES IN EXPANDING INTO NEW BUSINESS ACTIVITIES;
     DELAYS IN NEW SERVICE OFFERINGS; THE POTENTIAL TERMINATION OF CERTAIN
     SERVICE AGREEMENTS OR THE INABILITY TO ENTER INTO ADDITIONAL SERVICE
     AGREEMENTS; AND OTHER RISKS DESCRIBED IN THE COMPANY'S SEC FILINGS,
     INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED


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     DECEMBER 31, 1999, AS AMENDED, THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q
     FOR THE QUARTERS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND JUNE 30, 2000, AS AMENDED, THE
     COMPANY'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
     2000, AND THE COMPANY'S REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ON FORMS S-3 (NO.
     333-79097) AND S-4 (NO. 333-37750 AND 333-44864), THE COMPANY'S REPORT ON
     FORM 8-K DATED FEBRUARY 21, 2001, AND THE COMPANY'S REPORT ON FORM 8-K
     DATED MARCH 28, 2001, ALL OF WHICH RISKS ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO
     THIS PRESS RELEASE.

WORLD ACCESS CONTACT:      MICHELE WOLF
(404-231-2025)             V.P. OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
HTTP://WWW.WAXS.COM