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Technology Stocks : Vodafone-Airtouch (NYSE: VOD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MrGreenJeans who wrote (3066)	1/4/2001 10:13:30 AM
From: MrGreenJeans	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3175

BUMPER CHRISTMAS QUARTER TAKES VODAFONE TO OVER 78 MILLION CUSTOMERS WORLD-WIDE Vodafone Group Plc ("Vodafone") today announces record customer growth in the quarter ended 31 December 2000. Overall, 13.2 million customers were gained during the quarter, bringing the total proportionate customer base to 78.7 million. Of the new additions, 7.9 million were derived from organic growth and 5.3 million from increases in shareholdings made during the quarter. Commenting, Chris Gent, Chief Executive, Vodafone Group Plc, said: "The continuing success of our strategy is clearly demonstrated by yet further excellent increases in customer additions throughout the world during this last quarter. These figures show strong underlying growth from virtually all of our networks and are further enhanced by our initial investment in China and our increased ownership in Spain and Japan. We are well on track to exceeding 50% customer growth for the fourth successive year."Europe Vodafone's largest region in terms of customers, Europe, reported strong growth during the period with more than 5.0 million net new connections. Its customer base at the end of December 2000 of over 46 million includes 3.6 million gained from the increased holding in Spain. Julian Horn-Smith, CEO, Vodafone Europe, commented: "The last quarter saw significant customer growth throughout Europe with particularly robust performances from Omnitel in Italy and D2 in Germany. Net additions for D2 in December at just under 1.3 million were in line with ourexpectations." UK, Middle East and Africa The UK, Middle East and Africa Region added a total of 1.8 million net new customers. The UK contributed over 1.4 million, of which 1.2 million were Pay As You Talk customers. The region's total customer base at the end of the period was 13.8 million. Peter Bamford, Chief Executive, UK, ME&A, said: "Our record performance in the UK was more than 30% higher than the equivalent period in 1999. Particularly pleasing was the growth in net contract customers of 187,000, a record figure. We now have over 4 million contract customers inthe UK." Americas and AsiaNet new customer connections stood at 749,000 in the Americas and Asia Region. Verizon Wireless continued to grow strongly and as a result of the purchase of a 15% stake in Japan Telecom, an additional contribution of 873,000 is included in the total base of 16.3 million. Bill Keever, President, Americas & Asia, commented: "Verizon Wireless had a strong quarter, adding more than 522,000 net new proportionate customers. More than 50 per cent of Verizon Wireless customers now use its digital services. In Japan, despite intense competition, J-Phone maintained its market share and continued to add data customers at a rapidpace."Pacific Vodafone Pacific increased its customer base to 2.6 million with more than 326,000 additional net new customers. Brian Clark, CEO, Vodafone Pacific, stated: "Growth continues to be fuelled by the growing penetration of mobile phones in our markets, a marked reduction in churn and by substitution from fixed-line to mobile networks."