J-Phone 3G Licences

Vodafone AirTouch PLC
30 June 2000

                            
VODAFONE AND PARTNERS ANNOUNCE THEIR AWARD OF 3G LICENCES IN JAPAN

Vodafone AirTouch Plc ('Vodafone') today announces that the J-Phone
mobile phone companies (J-Phone), in which it has shareholdings
ranging  between  23%  and 27% along  with  Japan  Telecom  and
British  Telecom,  have  been awarded licences  to  operate  3G
services in Japan.

The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has awarded J-
Phone  licences  in the 2 GHz frequency band  utilising  W-CDMA
technology.  The licences are renewable indefinitely  every  15
years.  J Phone has been planning 3G services for the  past  16
months and expects to launch services by the end of 2001 in the
most  populated areas in Japan. Two other companies, NTT DoCoMo
and the DDI Group have also been awarded licences to operate 3G
services in Japan.

Chris Gent, Chief Executive of Vodafone commented, 'We welcome the
licence  award  decision  by the Japanese  government  and  its
support  in stimulating wireless and internet growth in  Japan.
This  approach  will create opportunities for  Japanese  mobile
operators and manufacturers, not only in their domestic  market
but more importantly in the rest of the world.

It will also enable J-Phone to continue the excellent progress it
has  made  to  date in the exciting new areas of  products  and
services that will become available through the introduction of
3G.'


For further information contact:

Terry Barwick, Director of Corporate Affairs,
Tim Brown, Investor Relations Director, or
Melissa Stimpson, Senior Investor Relations Manager
Mike Caldwell, Corporate Communications Director,
Vodafone AirTouch Plc
Telephone: [phone]

Lulu Bridges
Tavistock Communications
Telephone: [phone]