Vodafone Now Serves 200 Million Cell Phone Users

Press Release - February 1, 2007

The world’s largest wireless operator, Vodafone, announced yesterday that it had a total customer base of 200 million users, after achieving organic subscriber growth of 6.1% in the final quarter of 2006.

The group’s “closing proportionate customer base” increased by over 20% last year, reaching 198.6 million by December 31, according to Vodafone CEO, Arun Sarin. That number has since hit 200 million subscribers, 13.6 million of which are users of more advanced 3G wireless services.

“It took us 15 years to get our first 100 million customers,” Mr. Sarin commented yesterday. “It took us five years to get the next 100 million. There is good momentum in the business.”

The company also confirmed that it was still considering purchasing a controlling stake in Indian wireless carrier, Hutchison Essar, which would further bolster its total worldwide subscriber base.

Vodafone said, however, that it was committed to “only pursuing transactions that create value for shareholders and that meet the group’s stated financial investment criteria,” and would not pay an unreasonable price for Hutchison Essar.