Trial 3G Femtocell Technology

RNS Number:6864N
Vodafone Group Plc
11 February 2008


11 February 2008

                  VODAFONE GROUP TRIALS 3G FEMTOCELL TECHNOLOGY 

Vodafone Group is carrying out technical trials of 3G femtocells to assess how
effectively the technology is able to deliver wireless high-speed data and voice
services inside homes and business locations.

Vodafone is currently carrying out technical trials in Spain with both
Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei to explore the potential of femtocells, which are
wireless access points supporting 3G devices and connecting to the core network
via broadband DSL.

Based on the trials, Vodafone anticipates that femtocell technology may
potentially enable it to offer its customers highly targeted propositions for
the home and office offering enhanced indoor coverage.

Vodafone is also exploring whether the deployment of femtocells could generate
greater cost efficiencies through the provision of highly targeted 3G broadband
coverage using DSL technology to connect the customer to the core network.

'Vodafone has been driving industry development of femtocell technology, and the
trials with Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei are an opportunity for us to assess how
much benefit it can bring to our customers,' said Andy MacLeod, Global Networks
Director of Vodafone. 'Femtocells have the potential to enhance customers' 3G
broadband experience, and the trials are critical to investigate whether the
technology can deliver on its promise.'

Vodafone continues to offer its customers high speed 3G broadband through its
current access technologies including 3G and HSPA offering speeds of up to 7.2
Mbps in selected hotspots. Vodafone is continuously assessing new ways to
exploit these technologies further and also exploring the potential of
next-generation technologies that could offer wireless broadband speeds in
excess of 50 Mbps.

                                    - ends -                                    



For further information:

Vodafone Group

Investor Relations
Tel: [phone]

Media Relations
Tel: [phone]


Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to
our expectations relating to the potential voice and data service enhancements
and cost efficiencies resulting from the future deployment of Femtocell
technology.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive,
speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and
depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of
factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These
factors include, but are not limited to, adverse or unanticipated findings from
Vodafone's ongoing trials of femtocell technology, risk involving our ability to
implement femtocell technology and changes in the market for home and business
DSL technology.


About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with
operations in 25 countries across five continents and over 252 million
proportionate customers at 31 December 2007, as well as 40 partner networks.
For further information, please visit www.vodafone.com

 

 




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange