Strategic Partnership Agreeme

RNS Number : 0687W

Vodafone Group Plc

22 July 2009

 



22 July 2009 

AZERFON AND VODAFONE SIGN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Azerfon, one of the fastest growing mobile operators in Azerbaijan and Vodafone today announce a non-equity partnership to provide customers with high quality communications services and to collaborate jointly on future technological developments.

Under the Partner Market agreement, Azerfon has exclusive access to a range of products, services and devices from Vodafone in Azerbaijan as well as access to Vodafone's experience in supply chain management, the acquisition of enterprise customers and improved network inter-working. Vodafone's products will be made available for Azerfon's customers and potential customers in Azerbaijan.

Azerfon, which is currently constructing the third generation (3G) network in the country, will also be able to draw on Vodafone's expertise in rolling-out high-speed mobile data networks and mobile broadband products, working with leading global equipment providers.  

The partnership with Azerfon will allow Vodafone to offer its customers a range of services, which utilise 'home' network capabilities as well as extended coverage within Azerbaijan. The two companies will cooperate to provide additional support to Vodafone Global Enterprise customers, who have a presence in the region. 

Vodafone's products and services will be marketed in Azerbaijan under a co-branded approach and as part of a phased roll-out Vodafone will provide Azerfon customers with improved voice and data roaming access across 67 countries where Vodafone is present. 

Underlining the benefits of the partnership, Guido Helbich, CEO of Azerfon, said: 'The strategic partnership between Azerfon and Vodafone is of great importance to both companies. It is a logical step for Azerfon as the fastest growing mobile operator in the country to continue the development benefiting from Vodafone's expertise and world-wide success together with the provision of best in class and most innovative products and services from around the world on the local market. It will allow us to reach our potential and better develop the ICT sphere of Azerbaijan.' 

Richard Daly, CEO, Vodafone Partner Markets, commented: 'Our agreement with Azerfon is an opportunity for Vodafone to build its presence and work with the fastest growing operator in the country, where mobile penetration is around 75% and growing rapidly. In addition, more of our customers require enhanced roaming services and high-speed mobile broadband products within the region due to the high growth dynamics across all sectors in the country.'  

For further information:

Azerfon LLC:

Media Relations :

Telephone:  [phone]

Aziz Akhundov

Vodafone Group

Investor Relations

Telephone: [phone]

Media Relations

Telephone: [phone]

Notes to Editors:

About Azerfon

AZERFON LLC launched its commercial activities on 21 March, 2007 under the brand name Nar Mobile. The trademark Nar was created as a symbol of the relationship between Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage and modern life.

Today the network coverage of Azerfon reaches 80% of the territory of Azerbaijan Republic. Currently, over 1,200,000 subscribers use the network of Azerfon. For additional information please see Azerfon LLC web site www.azerfon.az 

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with approximately 303 million proportionate customers as of end of March 2009. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 31 countries across five continents and around 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com

About Vodafone Partner Markets

Vodafone Partner Markets are a series of strategic alliances across the globe between Vodafone Group and mobile network operators which Vodafone does not own. Instead, Vodafone has leveraged its global brand, and international products and services to agree partnerships which enable its partners to offer products and services under the Vodafone name. Partner Markets vary from full Vodafone branding agreements through to product branding, roaming and service resale agreements. In addition to offering Vodafone products and services to partner companies' customers, Vodafone customers, when roaming on partner networks, are able to seamlessly access a range of services familiar to them from their home markets.

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