FCC Approval for Joint Venture with Bell Atlantic

Vodafone AirTouch PLC
31 March 2000


 FCC APPROVES BELL ATLANTIC/VODAFONE AIRTOUCH WIRELESS JOINT VENTURE

     
The  Federal Communications Commission has granted approval  to  Bell
Atlantic  Corp. (NYSE: BEL) and Vodafone AirTouch Plc(LSE  and  NYSE:
VOD)  to  combine  their U.S. cellular, paging  and  PCS  businesses,
forming  a  new  nationwide wireless company which will significantly
increase competition in the wireless industry.

'We  greatly  appreciate the prompt review and approval  of  our  new
business  by  the  expert  staff  at the  FCC,'  said  Denny  Strigl,
president and CEO of the joint venture.
                           
                                  
For further information contact:
Terry Barwick, Director of Corporate Affairs
Tim Brown, Investor Relations Director, or
Melissa Stimpson, Senior Investor Relations Manager,
at Vodafone AirTouch Plc
Telephone [phone]

or

Lulu Bridges
Tavistock Communications Limited
Telephone: [phone]