Poss.Subsid.Tender Offer

Vodafone Group PLC
17 September 2001



  VODAFONE IN DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO A FRIENDLY TENDER
          OFFER TO ACQUIRE JAPAN TELECOM SHARES
          
In  response  to recent media speculation Vodafone  Group
Plc   ('Vodafone')   confirms   that   its   wholly-owned
subsidiary   Vodafone   International   Holdings,    B.V.
('VIHBV') is in discussions with East Japan Railway  Co.,
Ltd.  ('JR East') and in consultation with JAPAN  TELECOM
Co., Ltd. ('JAPAN TELECOM'). These discussions may or may
not lead to a public tender offer by VIHBV, supported  by
the  board  of JAPAN TELECOM, to acquire up to  21.7%  of
JAPAN  TELECOM's  shares.  Vodafone,  together  with  its
subsidiaries, is JAPAN TELECOM's largest shareholder with a
45% shareholding and JR East is JAPAN TELECOM's second
largest shareholder with a 15.2% shareholding.

A further announcement will be made in due course.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Vodafone Group Plc
Tim Brown, Group Corporate Affairs Director
Melissa Stimpson, Head of Group Investor Relations 
Darren Jones, Senior Investor Relations Manager 
Jon Earl, Investor Relations Manager
Tel:  [phone]

Tavistock Communications
Lulu Bridges
John West
Tel:  [phone]

UBS Warburg
Warren Finegold (London)
Charles Butterworth
Tel:  [phone]
Steven Thomas (Tokyo) 
Tel: [phone]



This  press  release  must not  be  mailed or  otherwise transmitted  or
distributed in or into the United  States of  America, Australia or any
Province or  Territory  of Canada.


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