AW

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vodafone Group plc (Vodafone) is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company and the seventh largest company in the world. It is headquartered in Newbury in the United Kingdom and has interests in mobile telephone networks in 29 countries across five continents.

Vodafone's market capitalisation stood at approximately £102bn as at the end of June 2001.The Vodafone proportionate customer base at the end of March 2001 stood at 82 997 000 customers. [Proportionate customers refer to the number of Vodafone Group Plc customers connected to Vodafone networks worldwide taking into account the company's shareholding in those networks.

Vodafone has been selected as a long-term strategic partner of China Mobile (Hong Kong), acquiring a 2.5% stake, and Swisscom, acquiring a 25% stake. Recent corporate developments have seen an acquisition in Ireland, purchase of a stake in Mexico and increasing its stake in Japan. The Groups joint venture with Vivendi, Vizzavi has began implementing a multi-access Internet portal across Europe with launches expected in New Zealand & Australia by March 2001.

Vodafone owns 31,5% of Vodacom Group (Pty) Ltd through its wholly owned subsidiary, Vodafone Group Holdings SA (Pty) Ltd.