The agreement will enable NZ Communications to provide nationwide mobile services to its customers. When NZ Communications customers travel outside the coverage of the new NZ Communications network, they will be able to automatically roam on Vodafone's 2G GSM and GPRS network.

According to NZ Communications Chairman Bill Osborne signing the national roaming agreement indicates the commitment of New Zealand Communications to be a provider of mobile telephone services in New Zealand.

There is still much work to be done and agreement still has to be reached on detailed implementation plans around roaming and co-location before NZ Communications can provide services to New Zealand consumers.

NZ Communications is targeting late next year for a start up date, but that is very dependent on the progress made on the detailed implementation plans.

CEO of Vodafone, Russell Stanners, says the announcement is another example of Vodafone providing commercial wholesale solutions in the market place.

There has been enormous interest from all quarters in ensuring there is a third player in the New Zealand mobile market, NZ Communications and Vodafone have worked hard to put a commercial deal in place and we are now finalising implementation plans to deliver the service, says Stanners.

The service covers voice, SMS, and data and may be extended to include 3G and HSDPA at NZ Communications request.

For further information please contact:

NZ Communications
Bill Osborne
Chairman
021 688814

Vodafone:
Alison Sykora
Company Communications
021 637272