VODAFONE AND DU SIGN STRATEGI

RNS Number : 3622M

Vodafone Group Plc

28 January 2009

VODAFONE AND DU SIGN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Vodafone and du, the UAE's integrated telecom service provider, today jointly announced that they have signed a Partner Market agreement. The exclusive strategic partnership will help both companies to better serve the needs of their respective customers in the region.

Under the terms of this agreement, du will have exclusive access to Vodafone's range of products, devices and services in the UAE and will be able to draw on Vodafone's experience in supply chain management, technology development, the acquisition of enterprise customers from multi-national companies as well as improved inter-working between networks. du becomes the first telecommunications operator in the UAE to join Vodafone's Partner Market programme.

As part of a phased roll-out, the partnership with Vodafone will provide du customers with improved voice and data roaming access across 67 countries. In turn, Vodafone will be able to use du's advanced 3G network to offer its customers a range of services, which utilise 'home' network capabilities as well as extended coverage within the UAE. The partnership will also enable multinational companies located outside the UAE and with local operations to meet their needs for unified communications, centralised customer care and Vodafone services using du lines.

Commenting on the agreement, Hatem Dowidar, CEO, Vodafone Partner Markets, commented: 'Through this agreement with du, Vodafone will be able to increase its brand recognition and extend its product range to a key market with a growing population. Mobile usage in the UAE is growing steadily and more of our customers require enhanced roaming services to and from the region.'

Underlining the benefits of the partnership, Osman Sultan, CEO, du, said: 'The partnership with Vodafone will enable du and our customers to join the world's largest international mobile network, whilst maintaining the advantages of being a local operator, thus supporting our prime mission of best serving the UAE population. This alliance will bring substantial benefits to our customers and shareholders, becoming a catalyst for expanding our service portfolio and improving our operational efficiency. '

Future developments of the du-Vodafone partnership will include offering customers mobile broadband connectivity products for PCs as well as secure, remote mobile access for small business users and converged email solutions. The two companies will also work to together to bring more quickly to market new and exclusive handset models.

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Vodafone Group

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Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 664444

Notes to Editors

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with approximately 280 million proportionate customers as of 30 September 2008. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 27 countries across five continents and over 40 partner markets worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com

About du

du, the integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, was awarded the second license to operate fixed and mobile telecommunications services in February 2006. The company launched its 'du' brand in the same month and listed 20% of its shares on the Dubai Financial Market in April 2006. du launched mobile telecommunication services on 11 February 2007 across the UAE in addition to internet and pay TV services in some of the free zones of Dubai. Call Select, the first of du's nationwide fixed line services for voice telephony, was launched in July 2007.

Among du's many firsts is its historic Number Booking Campaign for both individuals and business, Pay by the Second billing system, Mobile TV, Mobile Payments, first of its kind 'WoW' recharge card (which offers customers the choice between more credit and more time) and Self Care. du business offers include Closed Business User Group and preferred International Destinations.

du's retail network, currently numbering 27 du shops located in strategic locations across all Emirates, was launched on 25 February 2007, supporting the delivery of du services to customers.

du is 40 percent owned by the UAE Federal Government, 20 percent by Mubadala Development Company, 20 percent by Emirates Communications & Technology Company LLC and 20 percent by public shareholders. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and trades under the name du.

Awards to date

du declared 'Best Brand' at Telecoms World Awards Middle East 2007 for innovative branding and outstanding brand success.
Second place in the New Brand Launch category at the GMR Effectiveness in Marketing Awards 2007.
Silver Award for the best website in the ICT category at the UAE Web Awards 2007
du WoW TV Commercial awarded amongst the best 50 TV commercials in mobile telecom category in the world for 2007.
du corporate brand launch campaign awarded a Cristal MENA award in 2008
du won two prestigious awards at UAE Web Awards 2008. du e-shop portal won the best strategic online portal award in the e-commerce category and du's du media club website won the bronze award in the media and press category.