BellSouth Corp. has agreed to offer DirectTV Group Inc.’s satellite-television service in apartment and condominium buildings in an effort to fend off competition from cable operators.

BellSouth, the third-largest U.S. local-telephone company, will work with MasTec Inc. and DirecTECH Holding Co., both area DirecTV affiliates, to market and sell service packages in the Southeast, the Atlanta-based phone company said.

This announcement comes only days after DirecTV teamed up with Verizon Communications Inc. to provide a similar service in the New Jersey area.

In BellSouth’s nine-state local service area, customers will be able to buy packages that include hard-wired as well as wireless phone service, dial-up or high-speed Internet access and satellite TV.

Shares of the El Segundo-based satellite TV provider closed up 31 cents to $19.21 on Tuesday.