Sale of Vodafone Japan

Vodafone Group Plc
04 April 2006


   Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States,
                              Canada or Australia

4 April 2006

                             SALE OF VODAFONE JAPAN

Further to its announcement on 17 March 2006, Vodafone notes that, as per its
agreement with SoftBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank has today
launched a take-over bid for Vodafone Japan. Vodafone expects to complete the
sale of Vodafone Japan by 1 May 2006.

                                     - ends-

For further information:


Vodafone Group
Investor Relations                       Media Relations
Tel: [phone]                 Tel: [phone]


Notes to Editors

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading mobile telecommunications group with equity
interests in 27 countries across 5 continents with 179.3 million proportionate
customers worldwide as at 31 December 2005 as well as 32 partner networks. For
further information, please visit www.vodafone.com.


About Vodafone Japan

Vodafone Japan is defined as Vodafone K.K. It is the third largest mobile phone
operator in Japan. As at 30 September 2005, Vodafone Japan had total assets of
£6.2 billion under IFRS excluding goodwill and acquired intangible fixed assets.
For the year to 31 March 2005, Vodafone Japan had pre-tax profit of £0.7 billion
under IFRS. For further information, please visit www.vodafone.jp.

About SoftBank

SoftBank is one of the leading Japanese telecommunications and media companies
with operations in Broadband, Fixed Line Telecommunications, e-Commerce,
Internet, Broadmedia, Technology Services, Media and Marketing and Other
businesses. SoftBank is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and had a market
capitalisation of approximately US$32.8 billion at 28 February 2006. Masayoshi
Son is the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer. For further
information, please visit www.softbank.co.jp.


The Offer is not being and will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into,
or by use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, without
limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and internet) of interstate or
foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the
United States, and the Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use,
means, instrumentality or facilities or from within the United States. The Offer
is not being made and will not be made in or into Canada or Australia.
Accordingly, copies of this press release are not being, and must not be, mailed
or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from the United
States, Canada or Australia and persons receiving this press release (including
custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward,
distribute or send it into or from the United States, Canada or Australia. Doing
so may render invalid any purported acceptance.




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