EXECUTION COPY

                                                       ANNEX A
                                OPTION AGREEMENT

                  OPTION   AGREEMENT,   dated  as  of   October   2,  1998  (the
                  "Agreement"),  by and between Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc.,
                  a North Carolina corporation ("Issuer"), and AT&T Corp., a New
                  York corporation ("Grantee").

                     WHEREAS, Issuer and Grantee have
                  entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger,  dated as of the
                  date hereof (the "Merger  Agreement"),  providing  for,  among
                  other things,  the merger of Issuer with and into a subsidiary
                  of Grantee with such  subsidiary as the surviving  corporation
                  in the Merger;  and 

                    WHEREAS,  as a condition and inducement to
                  Grantee's  willingness  to enter  into the  Merger  Agreement,
                  Grantee  has  requested  that  Issuer  agree,  and  Issuer has
                  agreed,  to grant  Grantee the Option,  on the terms set forth
                  herein;  and 

                    WHEREAS,  terms not defined herein shall have the
                  meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement;

                     NOW, THEREFORE, in
                  consideration    of   the   foregoing   and   the   respective
                  representations,  warranties,  covenants  and  agreements  set
                  forth herein Issuer and Grantee agree as follows:  

     1.Grant of Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,
Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase
up to  7,319,000  (as  adjusted  as set forth  herein)  shares of Class A Common
Stock,  par value  $0.01  per  share  ("Issuer  Common  Stock"),  of Issuer at a
purchase  price of $23 (as  adjusted as set forth  herein) per Option Share (the
"Purchase Price").

     2.Exercise of Option.  (a) Grantee may exercise the Option,  in whole or in
part, at any time and from time to time,  after the occurrence of any event as a
result of which the  Grantee  shall be  entitled  to receive a  termination  fee
pursuant  to  Section  7.2(e) of the  Merger  Agreement  in the  amount of $52.5
million  pursuant  to part (1) or part (2) of such  Section  or in the amount of
$22.5  million  pursuant  to part  (3) of such  Section  (a  "Purchase  Event");
provided,  however, that except as provided in the last sentence of this Section
2(a), the Option shall  terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the
earliest to occur of (A) the Effective Time, (B) 12 months and one day after the
occurrence of a termination of the Merger  Agreement in accordance  with Section
7.1 (d),  (e),  (f) or (g) and (C) a  termination  of the  Merger  Agreement  in
accordance  with  Section  7.1(a),  (b),  (c) or (h)  of the  Merger  Agreement.
Notwithstanding  the  termination  of the Option,  Grantee  shall be entitled to
exercise the Option or have the Option  repurchased  if it has duly given notice
of its  intent  to  exercise  the  Option  or have  the  Option  repurchased  in
accordance  with the terms hereof prior to the termination of the Option and the
termination of the Option shall not affect any rights  hereunder  which by their
terms do not terminate or expire prior to or as of such termination.
                                           



          (b) In the event that Grantee wishes to exercise the Option,  it shall
     send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein referred to
     as the "Notice  Date") to that effect which notice also specifies the total
     number of shares the Grantee will purchase  pursuant to such exercise and a
     date not earlier than three  business  days nor later than 15 business days
     from the Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Option  Closing
     Date"); provided, however, that (i) if the closing of the purchase and sale
     pursuant to the Option (the  "Option  Closing")  cannot be  consummated  by
     reason  of any  applicable  judgment,  decree,  order,  law  or  regulation
     (including,  without limitation, the rules and regulations of the FCC), the
     period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this sentence shall run
     instead from the date on which such restriction on consummation has expired
     or been  terminated  and (ii)  without  limiting  the  foregoing,  if prior
     notification  to or  approval  of any  Governmental  Entity is  required in
     connection with such purchase or any other transaction contemplated hereby,
     Grantee and Issuer shall  promptly file the required  notice or application
     for approval and shall cooperate in the  expeditious  filing of such notice
     or  application,  and,  in the case of any prior  notification  or approval
     required  in  connection  with  such  purchase,  the  period  of time  that
     otherwise  would run pursuant to this  sentence  shall run instead from the
     date on which, as the case may be, (A) any required notification period has
     expired or been terminated or (B) any required  approval has been obtained,
     and in either  event,  any  requisite  waiting  period has  expired or been
     terminated.  The place of the  Option  Closing  shall be at the  offices of
     Wachtell,  Lipton,  Rosen & Katz, 51 West 52nd Street,  New York, New York,
     and the time of the Option  Closing shall be 10:00 a.m.  (Eastern  Time) on
     the Option Closing Date.

          3. Payment and Delivery of  Certificates.  (a) At the Option  Closing,
     Grantee shall pay to Issuer in immediately available funds by wire transfer
     to a bank  account  designated  in writing by Issuer an amount equal to the
     product  of (x) the  Purchase  Price and (y) the  number  of  shares  being
     purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option.

     (b)At the Option  Closing,simultaneously  with the delivery of immediately
          available  funds as provided in Section 3(a),  Issuer shall deliver to
          Grantee a certificate or  certificates  representing  the shares to be
          purchased at the Option Closing,  which shares shall be free and clear
          of all liens, claims,  charges and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever
          and a new Option  evidencing the rights of the Grantee to purchase the
          balance of the shares purchasable hereunder.

     (c)  Certificates for the shares delivered at the Option Closing shall have
          typed or  printed  thereon  a  restrictive  legend  which  shall  read
          substantially  as follows (if and to the extent true and  necessary in
          light of legal and factual circumstances  existing at such time): "THE
          SECURITIES  REPRESENTED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,  AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR
          SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN EXEMPTION 
                                            2


           FROM SUCH  REGISTRATION
          IS AVAILABLE.  SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN  PROVISIONS
          AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,  DATED AS OF  OCTOBER 2,
          1998, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED  FROM THE  SECRETARY OF VANGUARD
          CELLULAR SYSTEMS, INC. AT ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES."

     It   is  understood  and  agreed  that:  (i) the  reference  to the  resale
          restrictions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the "1933
          Act"),  in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute
          certificate(s)  without such reference if Grantee shall have delivered
          to Issuer a copy of a letter  from the staff of the SEC, or an opinion
          of counsel, in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to Issuer,
          to the effect that such  legend is not  required  for  purposes of the
          1933 Act;  (ii) the reference to the  provisions to this  Agreement in
          the  above  legend   shall  be  removed  by  delivery  of   substitute
          certificate(s)  without such reference if the shares have been sold or
          transferred  in compliance  with the  provisions of this Agreement and
          under  circumstances  that  do  not  require  the  retention  of  such
          reference;  and (iii) the legend  shall be removed in its  entirety if
          the  conditions  in the  preceding  clauses  (i)  and  (ii)  are  both
          satisfied.  In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend
          as may be required by law.

     4.Option  Repurchase.  (a) Upon the occurrence of a Purchase Event prior to
          the  termination  of the  Option,  in lieu of  exercising  the option,
          Grantee may require  Issuer to  repurchase  the Option.  If Grantee so
          elects,  Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option
          from Grantee at a price (the "Option  Repurchase  Price") equal to the
          amount by which (A) the Market/Offer  Price (as defined below) exceeds
          (B) the  Option  Price,  multiplied  by the number of shares for which
          this Option may then be exercised. The term "Market/Offer Price" shall
          mean the highest of (i) the price per share of Issuer  Common Stock at
          which a tender offer or exchange  offer  therefor has been made,  (ii)
          the highest  price per share of Issuer  Common Stock to be paid by any
          third party  pursuant to an agreement  with Issuer,  (iii) the highest
          closing  price for shares of Issuer  Common Stock within the six-month
          period  immediately  preceding  the date  Grantee  gives notice of the
          required  repurchase of this Option, or (iv) in the event of a sale of
          all or a substantial  portion of Issuer's assets, the sum of the price
          paid in such sale for such assets and the current  market value of the
          remaining  assets of Issuer as determined  by a nationally  recognized
          investment  banking firm selected by Grantee,  as the case may be, and
          reasonably  acceptable to the Issuer,  divided by the number of shares
          of Issuer Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the time of such sale.
          In determining  the  Market/Offer  Price,  the value of  consideration
          other  than  cash  shall  be  determined  by a  nationally  recognized
          investment  banking firm selected by Grantee,  as the case may be, and
          reasonably acceptable to the Issuer.

(b) The Grantee may exercise its
          right to require  Issuer to  repurchase  the Option  pursuant  to this
          Section by surrendering  for such purpose to Issuer,  at its principal
          office,  a copy of this Agreement,  accompanied by a written notice or
          notices  stating that Grantee  elects to require  Issuer to repurchase
          this Option in accordance with the provisions of this Section.  Within
          five  business  days after the surrender of the Option and the receipt
          of such notice or notices  relating  thereto,  Issuer shall deliver or
          cause to be delivered to Grantee the Option  Repurchase
                                            3


           Price therefor
          or the portion  thereof,  if any,  that Issuer is not then  prohibited
          under applicable law and regulation from so delivering.

          To the extent
          that Issuer is prohibited  under  applicable  law or  regulation  from
          repurchasing,   or  requires  any  approval  of  its  stockholders  to
          repurchase,  the Option in full,  Issuer shall  immediately  so notify
          Grantee and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered,  from time to
          time, to Grantee the portion of the Option Repurchase Price that it is
          no longer prohibited from delivering,  within five business days after
          the  date on  which  Issuer  is no  longer  so  prohibited;  provided,
          however,  that if Issuer  at any time  after  delivery  of a notice of
          repurchase pursuant to this Section is prohibited under applicable law
          or  regulation  from  delivering,  or  requires  any  approval  of its
          stockholders to deliver,  to Grantee,  the Option  Repurchase Price in
          full (and Issuer  hereby  undertakes to use its best efforts to obtain
          such  approval of its  stockholders  and all required  regulatory  and
          legal  approvals  and to file any  required  notices,  in each case as
          promptly  as  practicable  in order to  accomplish  such  repurchase),
          Grantee may revoke its notice of  repurchase  of the Option  either in
          whole or to the extent of the  prohibition,  whereupon,  in the latter
          case,  Issuer shall  promptly (i) deliver to Grantee,  that portion of
          the  Option  Repurchase  Price  that  Issuer  is not  prohibited  from
          delivering;  and (ii) deliver to Grantee, a new Stock Option Agreement
          evidencing  the right of Grantee to purchase  that number of shares of
          Issuer Common Stock  obtained by  multiplying  the number of shares of
          Issuer Common Stock for which the surrendered  Stock Option  Agreement
          was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by
          a fraction, the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase Price less
          the  portion  thereof  theretofore  delivered  to the  Holder  and the
          denominator of which is the Option  Repurchase  Price.  In such event,
          notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained herein, the Option
          shall not terminate  until at least five business day have passed from
          receipt by Grantee of the notice and portion of the Option  Repurchase
          Price   contemplated   by  the  first  sentence  of  this   paragraph.

          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event
          shall the sum of the Option  Repurchase  Price and the termination fee
          pursuant  to Section  7.2(e) of the Merger  Agreement  received by the
          Grantee from the Issuer  exceed $53 million and, if such sum otherwise
          would exceed such amount, the Option Repurchase Price shall be reduced
          such that the sum of the Option  Repurchase  Price and the Termination
          Fee equals $53 million.

  5.Representations  and Warranties of Issuer.
          Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

   (a) Due Authorization. Issuer has all requisite corporate power and authority
          to enter  into  this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the  transactions
          contemplated  hereby.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
          Issuer and the consummation by Issuer of the transactions contemplated
          hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate action on
          the  part of  Issuer.  This  Agreement  has  been  duly  executed  and
          delivered  by  Issuer  and  constitutes  a legal,  valid  and  binding
          obligation of Issuer,  enforceable  against Issuer in accordance  with
          its  terms. 

  (b) Authorized  Stock.  Issuer's   representations  and
          warranties  in  the  Merger  Agreement  are  incorporated   herein  by
          reference. Without limiting the generality
                                            4


          or effect of the foregoing,
          Issuer has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize
          and  reserve  and,  to permit it to issue,  and, at all times from the
          date hereof until the  obligation to deliver  shares upon the exercise
          of the Option  terminates,  shall have  reserved  for  issuance,  upon
          exercise of the Option,  shares of Issuer  Common Stock  necessary for
          Grantee to exercise the Option,  and Issuer  shall take all  necessary
          corporate  action to authorize and reserve for issuance all additional
          shares of Issuer Common Stock or other  securities which may be issued
          pursuant  to  Section 7 upon  exercise  of the  Option.  The shares of
          Issuer  Common  Stock to be issued  upon due  exercise  of the Option,
          including  all  additional  shares  of  Issuer  Common  Stock or other
          securities  which may be issuable  upon  exercise of the Option or any
          substitute  option  pursuant  to  Section  7, upon  issuance  pursuant
          hereto,   shall  be  duly  and   validly   issued,   fully   paid  and
          nonassessable,  and shall be  delivered  free and clear of all  liens,
          claims,  charges and  encumbrances  of any kind or nature  whatsoever,
          including without  limitation any preemptive rights of any stockholder
          of Issuer,  and the holder thereof shall be entitled to all rights and
          privileges  (without  limitation)  relating to shares of Issuer Common
          Stock  generally,  including  with  respect to voting and  disposition

          (c) No  Conflicts.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement does
          not, and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this
          Agreement and compliance  with the provisions of this Agreement  shall
          not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or
          without  notice  or lapse of time or both)  under,  or give  rise to a
          right of termination,  cancellation, or acceleration of any obligation
          or loss of a material  benefit under, or result in the creation of any
          Lien  upon any of the  properties  or  assets  of Issuer or any of its
          Significant  Subsidiaries  under, (i) the certificate of incorporation
          or by-laws of Issuer or the comparable organizational documents of any
          Significant  Subsidiary of Issuer,  (ii) any loan or credit agreement,
          note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument,
          permit, concession,  franchise, or license applicable to Issuer or any
          Significant  Subsidiary  of Issuer or their  respective  properties or
          assets  (without  prejudice to the  Company's  obligations  hereunder,
          other than  covenant  restrictions  contained  in the  Indenture  with
          respect to the Company's 9-3/8%  Debentures due 2006 and the Company's
          bank credit  facility with the banks named therein,  each of which the
          Company hereby  covenants to use its best efforts to have waived),  or
          (iii) any judgment,  order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,  rule, or
          regulation applicable to Issuer or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
          or their respective  properties or assets,  other than, in the case of
          clauses  (ii) and (iii),  any such  conflicts,  violations,  defaults,
          rights,  losses,  or Liens that individually or in the aggregate would
          not (x) have a  material  adverse  effect on  Issuer,  (y)  impair the
          ability of Issuer to perform its  obligations  under this Agreement or
          the  Merger   Agreement  or  (z)  prevent  or  materially   delay  the
          consummation  of  any  of  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
          Agreement. 

 (d) State  Takeover  Statutes.  The Board of Directors of
          Issuer has taken all action  necessary  or  advisable  so as to render
          inoperative with respect to the transactions  contemplated  hereby all
          applicable  state  anti-takeover   statutes.
                                            5


   6.Representations  and
          Warranties  of Grantee.  Grantee  hereby  represents  and  warrants to
          Issuer  that:

  (a) Due  Authorization.   Grantee  has  all  requisite
          corporate  power and  authority  to enter into this  Agreement  and to
          consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The execution and
          delivery of this Agreement by Grantee and the  consummation by Grantee
          of the transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly authorized by
          all necessary corporate action on the part of Grantee.  This Agreement
          has been duly  executed  and  delivered by Grantee and  constitutes  a
          legal,  valid and binding obligation of Grantee,  enforceable  against
          Grantee in accordance with its terms.

 (b) No Conflicts. The execution
          and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the  consummation  of the
          transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and compliance  with the
          provisions of this Agreement hereby shall not, conflict with or result
          in any violation  of, or default  (with or without  notice or lapse of
          time  or  both)  under,  or  give  rise  to a  right  of  termination,
          cancellation,  or acceleration of any obligation or loss of a material
          benefit  under,  or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
          properties or assets of Grantee or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
          under,  (i) the certificate of  incorporation or by-laws of Grantee or
          the comparable  organizational documents of any Significant Subsidiary
          of Grantee,  (ii) any loan or credit agreement,  note, bond, mortgage,
          indenture, lease or other agreement,  instrument,  permit, concession,
          franchise,  or  license  applicable  to  Grantee  or  any  Significant
          Subsidiary of Grantee or their  respective  properties  or assets,  or
          (iii) any judgment,  order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,  rule, or
          regulation   applicable   to  Grantee   or  any  of  its   Significant
          Subsidiaries or their respective  properties or assets, other than, in
          the case of clauses (ii) and (iii),  any such  conflicts,  violations,
          defaults,  rights,  losses,  or  Liens  that  individually  or in  the
          aggregate would not (x) have a material adverse effect on Grantee, (y)
          impair the  ability of Grantee to perform its  obligations  under this
          Agreement or the Merger  Agreement or (z) prevent or materially  delay
          the  consummation  of any of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
          Agreement.

  (c) Purchase  Not for  Distribution.  Any shares or other
          securities  acquired  by  Grantee  upon  exercise  of the  Option  are
          acquired  for  its  own  account,  and  shall  not be  transferred  or
          otherwise  disposed of except in a transaction  registered,  or exempt
          from  registration,  under  the  Securities  Act.

  7. Adjustment  upon
          Changes  in  Capitalization,  Etc.  (a) In the event of any  change in
          Issuer Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend,  split-up,  merger,
          recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares, or similar or other
          transaction,  the type and number of shares or  securities  subject to
          the  Option,  and the  Purchase  Price  therefor,  shall  be  adjusted
          appropriately,  and proper  provision  shall be made in the agreements
          governing  such  transaction,  so  that  Grantee  shall  receive  upon
          exercise  of the  Option  the  number  and  class of  shares  or other
          securities  or property that Grantee would have received in respect of
          Issuer Common Stock if the Option had been exercised immediately prior
          to such event or the record date therefor,  as applicable.  Subject to
          Section 1, and  without  limiting  the  parties'  relative  rights and
          obligations  under the Merger  Agreement,  if any additional shares of
          Issuer  Common Stock are issued or cease to be
                                            6


          issued and  outstanding
          after the date of this  Agreement  (other  than  pursuant  to an event
          described in the first sentence of this Section  7(a)),  the number of
          shares of Issuer  Common Stock subject to the Option shall be adjusted
          so that,  after such issuance or ceasing to be issued and outstanding,
          it equals  19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer  Common  Stock then
          issued and outstanding, without giving effect to any shares subject to
          or issued  pursuant to the Option.

  (b) Without  limiting the
          parties'  relative rights and obligations  under the Merger Agreement,
          in the event that Issuer enters into an agreement  (i) to  consolidate
          with or merge  into  any  person,  other  than  Grantee  or one of its
          subsidiaries,  and Issuer  shall not be the  continuing  or  surviving
          corporation  in such  consolidation  or  merger,  (ii) to  permit  any
          person,  other than Grantee or one of its subsidiaries,  to merge into
          Issuer and Issuer shall be the  continuing  or surviving  corporation,
          but in connection with such merger,  the shares of Issuer Common Stock
          outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such merger shall
          be changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities of Issuer
          or any other  person or cash or any other  property,  or the shares of
          Issuer Common Stock outstanding  immediately prior to the consummation
          of such merger shall,  after such merger,  represent  less than 50% of
          the outstanding  voting securities of the merged company,  or (iii) to
          sell or otherwise  transfer all or substantially  all of its assets to
          any person,  other than Grantee or one of its subsidiaries,  then, and
          in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make
          proper  provision so that the Option shall,  upon the  consummation of
          any such  transaction  and upon the  terms  and  conditions  set forth
          herein,  be converted into, or exchanged for, an option with identical
          terms appropriately adjusted to acquire the number and class of shares
          or other  securities  or property  that Grantee would have received in
          respect  of  Issuer  Common  Stock if the  Option  had been  exercised
          immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, or transfer, or
          the record date therefor, as applicable.

  8. Registration Rights. Upon
          the   occurrence  of  a  Purchase  Event  that  occurs  prior  to  the
          termination  of the Option,  Issuer shall,  at the request of Grantee,
          promptly prepare, file and keep current a shelf registration statement
          under the 1933 Act covering any shares issued and issuable pursuant to
          this Option and shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts to cause such
          registration statement to become effective and remain current in order
          to permit the sale or other disposition of any shares of Issuer Common
          Stock  issued upon total or partial  exercise of this Option  ("Option
          Shares"), or shares acquired under the Voting Agreement, in accordance
          with any plan of disposition requested by Grantee. Issuer will use its
          reasonable best efforts to cause such registration  statement first to
          become  effective and then to remain  effective for such period not in
          excess  of 180 days  from the day such  registration  statement  first
          becomes effective or such shorter time as may be reasonably  necessary
          to effect  such sales or other  dispositions.  Grantee  shall have the
          right to demand two such  registrations.  Grantee  shall  provide  all
          information  reasonably  requested  by  Issuer  for  inclusion  in any
          registration statement to be filed hereunder.  If requested by Grantee
          in connection with such  registration,  Issuer shall become a party to
          any underwriting  agreement  relating to the sale of such shares,  but
          only to the extent of obligating itself in respect of representations,
          warranties,  indemnities and other agreements  customarily included in
          secondary offering underwriting agreements for the Issuer.

 9. Listing.
          If Issuer  Common Stock or any other  securities  to be acquired  upon
          exercise  of the  Option  are then  listed  on  Nasdaq  (or any  other
          national securities exchange 
                                            7


          or national securities quotation system),
          Issuer,   upon  the  request  of  Grantee,   shall  promptly  file  an
          application  to list  the  shares  of  Issuer  Common  Stock  or other
          securities  to be acquired  upon exercise of the Option on Nasdaq (and
          any such other  national  securities  exchange or national  securities
          quotation system) and shall use reasonable  efforts to obtain approval
          of such  listing as promptly as  practicable.

  10.Loss or  Mutilation.
          Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to it of
          the loss, theft,  destruction or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in
          the case of loss,  theft or  destruction)  of reasonably  satisfactory
          indemnification,   and  upon  surrender  and   cancellation   of  this
          Agreement,  if  mutilated,  Issuer  shall  execute  and  deliver a new
          Agreement of like tenor and date. Any such new Agreement  executed and
          delivered shall constitute an additional contractual obligation on the
          part  of  Issuer,  whether  or not  the  Agreement  so  lost,  stolen,
          destroyed,  or mutilated  shall at any time be  enforceable by anyone.

 11. Miscellaneous.

  (a) Expenses.  Except as otherwise provided in the
          Merger  Agreement,  each of the parties  hereto shall bear and pay all
          costs and expenses  incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with
          this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder,  including
          fees  and  expenses  of  its  own  financial  consultants,  investment
          bankers, accountants and counsel.

  (b) Amendment.  This Agreement may
          not be amended, except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
          each of the  parties.

  (c) GOVERNING  LAW.  THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE
          DEEMED A CONTRACT MADE UNDER,  AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED
          IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,  WITHOUT REGARD
          TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE
          LAWS OF THE RESPECTIVE  STATES OF INCORPORATION OF EACH OF THE PARTIES
          HERETO SHALL GOVERN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS,  OBLIGATIONS,  POWERS, DUTIES
          AND OTHER  INTERNAL  AFFAIRS OF SUCH PARTY AND ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

  (d) Severability.   If  any  provision  of  this   Agreement  or  the
          application of such provision to any person or circumstances  shall be
          held invalid by a court of competent  jurisdiction,  the  remainder of
          the provision  held invalid and the  application  of such provision to
          persons or circumstances,  other than the party as to which it is held
          invalid, shall not be affected.

 (e) Counterparts.  This Agreement may
          be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
          to be an original but all of which together  shall  constitute one and
          the same  instrument.
(f) Headings.  All  Section  headings  are for
          convenience  of reference  only and are not part of this Agreement and
          no   construction   or   reference   shall   be   derived   therefrom.
                                            8


(g) Extension;  Waiver. Any agreement on the part of a party to waive
          any  provision  of  this   Agreement,   or  to  extend  the  time  for
          performance,  shall be valid  only if set  forth in an  instrument  in
          writing  signed on behalf of such  party.  The failure of any party to
          this  Agreement  to assert any of its rights  under this  Agreement or
          otherwise  shall not  constitute a waiver of such rights.
(h) Entire
          Agreement; No Third-Party  Beneficiaries.  This Agreement,  the Voting
          Agreement  and the  Merger  Agreement  (including  the  documents  and
          instruments  referred to therein)  and the  confidentiality  agreement
          entered into by Issuer and Grantee in connection with the transactions
          contemplated  by  the  Merger  Agreement  (i)  constitute  the  entire
          agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both
          written  and oral,  between the  parties  with  respect to the subject
          matter  of such  agreements  and (ii)  except as  expressly  otherwise
          provided  herein or in the Voting  Agreement or the Merger  Agreement,
          are not  intended to confer upon any person other than the parties any
          rights or  remedies.

(i) Notices.  All  notices,  requests,  claims,
          demands,  and other  communications  under this  Agreement  must be in
          writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,  telecopied
          (which is confirmed), or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of
          delivery) to the parties at the following  addresses (or at such other
          address for a party as shall be specified by like  notice):

      (i) if to Grantee, to

                AT&T Corp.
                295 North Maple Avenue
                Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920
                Telecopy No.:   (908) 221-6618
                Attention:  Marilyn Wasser


                         with copies to:

                Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                51 West 52nd Street
                New York, New York  10019
                Telecopy No.:  (212) 403-2000
                Attention:  David M. Silk; and
                                            9


       (ii) if to Issuer, to

                Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc.
                2002 Pisgah Church Road
                Greensboro, NC 27455
                Telecopy No.: (336) 545-2219
                Attention: Richard Rowlenson

                         with a copy to:

                Latham & Watkins
                53rd at Third Avenue, Suite 1000
                885 Third Avenue
                New York, NY 10022-4802
                Telecopy No.:  (212) 751-4864
                Attention:  Raymond Y. Lin.

  (j) Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
                           interests, or obligations under this Agreement may be
                           assigned  or  delegated,  in  whole  or in  part,  by
                           operation of law or otherwise,  by Issuer without the
                           prior  written  consent of  Grantee,  and Grantee may
                           assign or delegate,  in whole or in part,  any of its
                           rights  hereunder.  Any  assignment  or delegation in
                           violation of the preceding sentence shall be void.

 (k) Further  Assurances.  In the event of any exercise of the
                           Option by Grantee,  Issuer and Grantee  shall execute
                           and deliver all other  documents and  instruments and
                           take  all  other   action  that  may  be   reasonably
                           necessary  in order to  consummate  the  transactions
                           provided for by such exercise.

(l) ENFORCEMENT.  THE PARTIES AGREE THAT  IRREPARABLE  DAMAGE
                           WOULD OCCUR AND THAT THE  PARTIES  WOULD NOT HAVE ANY
                           ADEQUATE  REMEDY AT LAW IN THE EVENT  THAT ANY OF THE
                           PROVISIONS  OF THIS  AGREEMENT  WERE NOT PERFORMED IN
                           ACCORDANCE   WITH  THEIR   SPECIFIC   TERMS  OR  WERE
                           OTHERWISE BREACHED. IT IS ACCORDINGLY AGREED THAT THE
                           PARTIES   SHALL  BE  ENTITLED  TO  AN  INJUNCTION  OR
                           INJUNCTIONS TO PREVENT BREACHES OF THIS AGREEMENT AND
                           TO ENFORCE  SPECIFICALLY  THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF
                           THIS  AGREEMENT IN ANY FEDERAL  COURT  LOCATED IN THE
                           STATE  OF NEW YORK OR IN NEW YORK  STATE  COURT,  THE
                           FOREGOING  BEING IN ADDITION  TO ANY OTHER  REMEDY TO
                           WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED AT LAW OR IN EQUITY.
                                            10


  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Issuer and  Grantee  have  caused  this
    Agreement to be signed by their respective  officers thereunto
     duly authorized as of the day and year first written above.

                                          VANGUARD CELLULAR SYSTEMS, INC.


                                     By:
                                     Name:
                                     Title:

                                          AT&T CORP.


                                     By:/s/ Michael Berg
                                     Name: Michael Berg
                                     Title: Assistant Secretary
                                            11


Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above.


                                     By:/s/ Stephen R. Leeplou
                                     Name: Stephen R. Leeolou
                                     Title: President and Chief Executive 
                                                                Officer