AirTouch Wireless Networks Make Successful Transition to Year 2000.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 1, 2000

AirTouch Communications, a subsidiary of Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD, NYSE:VOD), today announced that its U.S. cellular and paging networks have achieved a successful rollover to the year 2000, making a smooth transition into the next century.

"AirTouch is off to a flying start in the year 2000," said Arun Sarin, CEO, USA/Asia Pacific, Vodafone AirTouch. "Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team, we met our primary Y2k goal -- providing superior service to our customers every day, including January 1, 2000. Clearly, our thorough advance planning for Y2k paid off. Now we're looking forward to an exciting and successful new year."

AirTouch began planning for Y2k in 1997. During 1998 and 1999, a team of up to 300 people performed a comprehensive analysis of the company's business to identify affected systems and correct them on a prioritized basis.

The most important systems include cellular and paging networks, billing, customer care, information services, collections and payment processes. Altogether, AirTouch's network, systems, and service providers infrastructure consist of over 20,000 unique mission-critical components.

AirTouch's Emergency Communications Center began tracking the status of the rollover globally at 2:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on Dec. 31, and will shut down no earlier than Jan. 4. The company will continue to monitor its wireless networks and computer systems to ensure that there are no future problems associated with Y2k.

Outside the U.S., Vodafone AirTouch's international cellular networks made a smooth transition to the year 2000. Millions of customers spanning the globe from Australia to Africa were able to communicate without experiencing Y2k-related disruptions.

AirTouch serves more than 9 million U.S. cellular and PCS customers on a proportionate basis. Its ventures operate in 25 states and 22 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. AirTouch Paging serves 3.5 million customers across the U.S.

AirTouch is part of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest wireless communications firm, based in the United Kingdom. It has mobile operations in 24 countries on five continents, with more than 31 million proportionate customers at the end of September 1999. For more information, visit the AirTouch web site at www.airtouch.com.