Ericsson Selectd as 3G Infrastructure Supplier

Vodafone AirTouch PLC
16 May 2000


      VODAFONE SELECTS ERICSSON AS 3G INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPLIER

Vodafone UK has today announced that it has selected Ericsson as its
principal supplier of third-generation (3G) infrastructure for  the
planned UK rollout of its new 3G network which will enable the next
generation  of  mobile communications services.  Vodafone  recently
succeeded  in winning the largest licence available to  it  in  the
auction held by the UK government.

Vodafone has worked with Ericsson as a network infrastructure supplier
since  it  launched the UK's first mobile phone network in  January
1985.   More  recently the two companies have  worked  together  to
trial  3G  multimedia  services.   These  trials  have  given  both
companies first hand practical experience in the deployment  of  3G
networks.   Both companies are very active within the international
committees  working  on  common standards for  3G  technology.   In
support of its commitment to open standards, Ericsson has agreed to
work  with  Vodafone to enable the introduction of  other  vendor's
products  into Vodafone's 3G network which is expected to  commence
service in the first quarter of 2002.

Commenting, Peter Bamford, Chief Executive of Vodafone UK  Limited,
said:  'Ericsson has been a strategic partner of Vodafone for  many
years  and we are delighted to further strengthen this relationship
by working together on the speedy rollout of our UK 3G network.'

The new 3G network which will be available to customers in 2002 will
deliver  customers  a  new generation of services,  including  full
internet, video-conferencing and many multimedia services.


For further information contact:
Terry Barwick, Director of Corporate Affairs
Tim Brown, Investor Relations Director
Melissa Stimpson, Senior Investor Relations Manager
Vodafone AirTouch Plc
Telephone: [phone]

Lulu Bridges
Tavistock Communications
Telephone: [phone]