FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Dated September 3, 1999
VODAFONE AIRTOUCH
PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
THE COURTYARD, 2-4 LONDON ROAD, NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, RG14 1JX, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
----- -----
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
----- -----
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82_______________
THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (FILE NO. 333-81825) OF VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC
LIMITED COMPANY AND TO BE A PART THEREOF FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REPORT IS
FURNISHED, TO THE EXTENT NOT SUPERSEDED BY DOCUMENTS OR REPORTS SUBSEQUENTLY
FILED OR FURNISHED.
<PAGE>
In connection with the shelf registration statement on Form F-3 being
filed by Vodafone AirTouch Public Limited Company, which we refer to as Vodafone
AirTouch or the company, on September 3, 1999, Vodafone AirTouch is filing this
Report on Form 6-K to provide an updated description of its business following
the merger with AirTouch Communications, Inc., which we refer to as AirTouch.
For definitions of certain terms used in this description, see the glossary of
terms on page 22.
DESCRIPTION OF VODAFONE AIRTOUCH
INTRODUCTION
Vodafone AirTouch is one of the world's leading wireless
telecommunications companies. The company provides a full range of wireless
telecommunications services, including cellular, broadband personal
communications (known as PCS), paging and data communications.
On June 30, 1999, Vodafone Group Plc, which we refer to as Vodafone
Group, and AirTouch merged to create the world's largest wireless
telecommunications company in terms of the number of proportionate customers. As
a result of the merger, AirTouch became a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone
Group, and Vodafone Group changed its name to Vodafone AirTouch. The merger
facilitated a major step in Vodafone AirTouch's declared strategy to extend the
reach, range and penetration of mobile services to as many customers as
possible, in as many geographical territories throughout the world that can
sustain viable and profitable operating environments. The merger enabled the
creation of a more competitive, global telecommunications company than either
Vodafone Group or AirTouch would have been alone.
Following the merger, the company now has interests in 24 countries
across five continents. The major geographical markets in which the company has
interests in cellular network operations are Australia, Belgium, Egypt, France,
Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
company also has interests in cellular network operations in Fiji, Hungary,
India, Malta, Romania, South Korea and Uganda. As of June 30, 1999, the company
had approximately 28 million proportionate customers (excluding paging
customers). The company and its ventures serve approximately 400 million
proportionate POPs worldwide.
The company was incorporated in England in July 1984 as a subsidiary of
Racal Electronics Plc and became an independent company in September 1991. The
company's registered office is at The Courtyard, 2-4 London Road, Newbury,
Berkshire RG14 1JX. The company's ordinary shares and American depositary shares
are listed on the London and New York stock exchanges, respectively. The company
had a market capitalization of over $124 billion on August 31, 1999, making it
the second largest company in the U.K. and the 24th largest in the world.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The company's strategy is to concentrate on wireless telecommunications
globally and in respect of international investments to further develop its
existing businesses, increase current shareholdings and, where appropriate, bid
for new licenses and make acquisitions.
The company's objective is to continue to be the world's leading
provider of wireless telecommunication services. The company believes that the
following elements of its business strategy will enable it to meet that
objective:
FOCUS ON WIRELESS. By concentrating on wireless telecommunication
services, the company has invested its capital in a proven industry that is
expected to grow dramatically on a worldwide basis. The global market for
wireless telecommunications is undergoing rapid growth as consumers have
endorsed the benefits
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of wireless telephony, with market penetration already exceeding half of some
countries' populations, including Sweden's and Finland's. The company believes
that wireless telecommunications will continue to be one of the fastest growing
segments of the telecommunications industry, as, over time, it is anticipated
that wireless voice telephony will replace large amounts of telecommunications
traffic currently carried by fixed line networks and will serve as a major
platform for voice and data communications. The company believes that market
penetration in most developed countries will reach at least 50% of the
population by the year 2003 and will reach 55% in the U.S. and 65% in most
developed European countries by 2005. This compares with current penetration
approaching 30% in the U.K. and the U.S.
GLOBAL PRESENCE. The company has a diverse global presence, which
reduces its risks from adverse market conditions in any one region. The global
scope of the company's operations places it in an advantageous position to
capitalize on the anticipated growth of the industry, to provide greater global
telecommunications coverage and to become the "operator of choice" for
international companies, business travelers and travel-minded consumers. Its
global reach also enables the company to identify emerging trends and share best
practices across its many ventures. Additionally, the company's presence in many
of the world's major markets makes it an attractive partner for other
international fixed and wireless telecommunications providers.
SCALE ADVANTAGES. The company's operational strength and scale enhance
its ability to develop existing networks, to be at the forefront of the
provision of technologically advanced products and services, particularly the
development of third generation wireless telephony and to make strategic
acquisitions. The company is able to reduce its costs per customer by spreading
expenses over a large customer base and by consolidating headquarters services
and certain shared operational functions.
Furthermore, the merger of Vodafone Group and AirTouch is expected to
contribute to cost savings and operational efficiencies that the company
believes will generate competitive advantages. The savings and efficiencies are
estimated to result in after-tax net cash flow savings of (pound)200 million
($323 million) per year by the year ending March 31, 2002, arising from global
purchasing and operating efficiencies, including volume discounts on worldwide
purchases of cellular handsets, infrastructure and other assets, lower leased
line costs, a more efficient contiguous European voice and data network and
savings in the development and purchase of third generation wireless handsets,
infrastructure and software.
The estimated cost savings from the merger referred to above is a
forward looking statement within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 which involves risks and uncertainties because it relates to events
and depends on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number
of factors that could cause the actual cost savings to differ materially from
this estimate, including the timing and extent of actual volume discounts on
worldwide purchases of cellular handsets, infrastructure and other assets and
changes in exchange rates.
EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. The company's efficient management
structure in the U.K. and elsewhere in the world makes it an agile competitor in
an increasingly competitive industry. Decisions about matters that immediately
affect customers in these markets, such as sales and customer service, are kept
close to customers, while decisions in areas where the company can realize the
benefits of the scale of its operations, such as purchasing, technology and
product development, are being increasingly centralized.
STRICT FINANCIAL INVESTMENT CRITERIA. The company's strong financial
performance is due in part to its financial discipline and structured approach
to new opportunities and ventures. Each potential investment is measured against
a strict set of financial criteria to determine whether the investment offers an
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opportunity for value creation for the company's shareholders.
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
The business activities of the company are organized into three key
geographical regions: (i) the U.K.; (ii) the U.S. and Asia Pacific; and (iii)
Europe, Middle East and Africa, and are described below. In addition, the
company has a small interest in a global satellite communications company.
The structure of the company's international cellular interests outside
the U.K. and the U.S. reflects some government preferences that local owners
hold an interest in their telecommunications licenses, together with the
company's belief that in many countries local partners significantly contribute
to the success of a venture. In structuring its investments, the company
attempts to obtain operating influences in a number of ways, including through
board representation, the right to appoint certain key members of management and
consent rights with respect to significant matters.
UNITED KINGDOM
INTRODUCTION
The company operates digital and analog cellular radio telephone
networks in the U.K. through Vodafone Limited, which we refer to as Vodafone.
Vodafone is the largest of the four cellular telephone operators in the U.K.
with more than 6.1 million customers at June 30, 1999, and has been the market
leader in terms of number of customers since 1986.
Service on the Vodafone digital and analog networks is sold to
customers by service providers or retailers who also sell cellular telephone
equipment. At June 30, 1999, there were more than 30 service providers
connecting to the Vodafone networks. The company wholly owns three U.K. service
provider businesses, Vodafone Retail, Vodafone Connect and Vodafone Corporate,
each of which concentrates on a distinct market sector. These three service
providers, and the wholly owned retail stores, all operate under the Vodafone
brand name.
Vodafone Value Added and Data Services Limited provides messaging,
third-party charging and data transmission facilities and access to information
services, all of which are designed to increase the utility of the Vodafone
networks. Vodafone Paging Limited operates a paging business in the U.K.
NETWORK OPERATIONS
Vodafone's licenses permit it to operate digital and analog cellular
telephone networks.
DIGITAL NETWORK. Vodafone's digital cellular network follows the GSM
standard which has now been adopted by more than 130 countries worldwide,
including all European Union member countries, Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, Hong Kong and South Africa, and which is substantially different than
the CDMA technology standard employed in the U.S.
Vodafone currently has roaming agreements with 212 networks in 100
countries. These roaming agreements enable Vodafone digital customers to make
and receive calls when visiting countries in which a licensee has an agreement
with Vodafone, and similarly, allow visitors to use its wireless phones in the
U.K. if their network operator has signed an agreement with Vodafone.
At March 31, 1999, Vodafone's digital network in the U.K. consisted of
41 MSCs and approximately 5,100 digital base stations in service, giving
declared coverage to over 99% of the population. When completed, the Vodafone
digital network is expected to exceed 10,000 digital base stations, and, when
all frequencies that can be moved have been migrated from analog to digital,
system capacity is expected to be more than 15 million customers based on voice
traffic only. The increased roll-out of the digital network is reflected in
Vodafone's capital expenditure. Of a total expenditure of (pound)343 million in
the financial year ended March 31, 1999, (pound)311 million was spent on the
digital
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network infrastructure. The principal components of the network have been
purchased mainly from Ericsson and also from Nokia. The current digital network
investment program will ensure that Vodafone has an alternative for its analog
customers before the end of 2005, when Vodafone is required to cease providing
service on and shut down the analog network pursuant to an agreement with the
Department of Trade and Industry in the U.K.
ANALOG NETWORK. The Vodafone analog network transmits and receives
calls on its voice channels by means of over 2,100 cells served by almost 1,100
base stations and the 10 MTXs currently in use. The Vodafone analog network is
complete and it is not expected that any significant capital expenditure will
take place in the future.
NETWORK CHURN. During the financial year ended March 31, 1999,
Vodafone's overall churn rate was reduced from 29.0% to 26.0%. This reflected a
1.2% reduction in contract churn to 27.8% and the impact of PAYT churn, which
was around 20%. An insufficient period has passed since the introduction of PAYT
to assess a realistic ongoing churn level for PAYT, but the level is expected to
rise because Vodafone's policy is to disconnect PAYT customers six months after
their prepay credit is used.
The introduction of wireless number portability, which enabled
customers to transfer to different cellular networks after January 1, 1999,
while still retaining their existing number, did not have a significant effect
on Vodafone in the period to June 30, 1999.
MARKET
The U.K. cellular telephone market has grown rapidly since the
commencement of commercial service in January 1985 and is very competitive.
Initially, small businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals constituted a large
proportion of Vodafone's customers, with large corporations subsequently
becoming major users and contributing significantly to the overall growth in
customer numbers. More recently, significant numbers of lower use customers have
been attracted through competitive tariffs with lower monthly access charges and
inclusive calls. The successfully launched digital "Pay As You Talk" or PAYT
service has further increased this trend by offering customers access to the
network, without being tied into a written contract. PAYT customers purchase
phones and pre-pay for "top up vouchers" which give them access to the network
and calling time. PAYT service accounted for 41% of Vodafone's customer base at
June 30, 1999. Although prepay customers typically generate lower usage and
average revenues than contract customers, they generally pay a higher per minute
rate and have lower per customer acquisition costs. As a result of the
increasing numbers of pre-pay customers, the company's average revenue per
customer has declined during the first half of the current financial year
although average revenues per contract customer has remained relatively stable.
The company estimates that during the financial year ended March 31,
1999, the overall U.K. market increased by over 5,800,000 customers, or almost
65%, from just over 9,000,000 at March 31, 1998 to over 14,800,000 customers.
Vodafone enjoyed growth of approximately 63% in its customer base during the
financial year ended March 31, 1999, connecting 2,145,000 net new customers to
its digital and analog networks, of which 1,648,000 were PAYT customers. By June
30, 1999, Vodafone's customer base had increased to over 6,150,000 customers as
the U.K. market increased to almost 16,800,000 customers.
For the market as a whole, digital service continues to increase in
importance, from an 82% share at March 31, 1998 to 92% at March 31, 1999, at
which time Vodafone had 84% of its customers on its digital service compared to
75% at March 31, 1998. The launch of digital PAYT, with its competitive call
rates and low service credit charges, has been a significant factor underlying
the net growth in the number of customers connected to the digital service and
the increased usage of the network.
Vodafone is the U.K. market leader in terms of number of customers,
with
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approximately 37.4% of the total market at March 31, 1999, compared to BT
Cellnet's estimated 30.4% share and Orange and One-2-One's estimated 32.2%
aggregate share. The competition in the U.K. market is likely to intensify if
the proposed third generation license auction occurs as planned in early 2000,
and if the recently announced purchase of One-2-One by Deutsche Telekom is
completed.
DISTRIBUTION
VODAFONE RETAIL, VODAFONE CORPORATE AND VODAFONE CONNECT. The company
has three wholly owned U.K. businesses that supply cellular telephones and
related equipment for connection to Vodafone digital and analog networks. These
companies also invoice and provide customer support service for their network
customers. Each business focuses on a particular market segment and channel of
distribution. Vodafone Corporate targets major corporate accounts through a
direct sales force. Vodafone Retail serves consumers and small- to medium-sized
businesses through owned specialist shops while Vodafone Connect does so through
independent retailers and dealers. Distribution of the PAYT service through
multiple retailers and the shift toward mass market channels, such as
supermarkets, has contributed significantly to the increase in customer growth.
At March 31, 1999, the three in-house distribution businesses had
approximately 1,782,000 Vodafone contract customers and accounted for
approximately 48% of the Vodafone contract customer base. Net contract
connections during the financial year ended March 31, 1999 were 158,000. Sales
of PAYT phones for the year to March 31, 1999 through these distribution
channels amounted to approximately 1,101,000 units, accounting for approximately
67% of the Vodafone total.
OTHER U.K. SERVICE PROVIDERS. The company has an investment of 20% in
Mobile Telecom Plc. In April 1999, BT Cellnet purchased an 80% interest in
Martin Dawes Telecommunications Limited, in which the company had a 20%
interest. The company exercised an option to sell its 20% interest to BT Cellnet
in July 1999. In April 1999, the company acquired 100% of the service provider
Cable & Wireless M.C. Mobile Services Limited. On September 1, 1999, the company
announced it had acquired 100% of the service provider UniqueAir. Other
independent service providers also connect customers to Vodafone's networks.
Vodafone charges all service providers, including its own service
provider affiliates, for their customers' initial connection, monthly access to,
and airtime on, the Vodafone network. Service providers are given a discount on
Vodafone's airtime rates for each tariff, the discount increasing depending on
the number of customers the service provider has registered on the Vodafone
network. The service provider bears the credit risk of collecting charges from
its customers.
THIRD GENERATION LICENSES
In May 1999, the U.K. government announced that it proposed to auction
five third generation wireless telephone licenses, one of which is reserved for
a new entrant in the U.K. wireless telecommunications market. The auction is now
expected to take place in early 2000 and Vodafone intends to bid for one of the
licenses, which will also provide Vodafone with additional system capacity.
Should Vodafone be successful, additional capital expenditures will be required
in order to increase the capacity of the existing networks to meet the demand
for the new value added services expected to be available from the new license.
Third generation technology will offer users increased bandwidth connections to
their wireless handsets, allowing them to access an extensive range of new
services. These will include video telephony, high-speed access to corporate
intranets and the internet and the provision of electronic mail services which
allow the user to access and control a range of messaging options, including
e-mail and voice mail. Deployment of third generation services will occur
alongside existing GSM services. Dual-mode phones are expected to be available
to enable customers to receive regular GSM services as usual and, where
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available, the new third generation services. Consequently, the third generation
networks are not initially expected to be replacements for GSM networks but to
work in parallel.
UNITED STATES AND ASIA PACIFIC REGION
INTRODUCTION - UNITED STATES
The company is one of the largest providers of cellular and PCS
services in the U.S. through its subsidiary AirTouch.
As of June 30, 1999, the company's U.S. cellular and PCS interests
represented approximately 96 million POPs and 8,951,000 proportionate customers.
These interests include some of the most attractive U.S. cellular markets based
upon population size and U.S. demographic characteristics.
Notwithstanding the attractiveness of existing interests, the company's
strategy for the U.S. is to complete a national coverage "footprint" for its
customers. This may be achieved by a combination of roaming on competitor
networks, joint-venture alliances, acquisition of existing operators and the
purchase of raw frequency spectrum. To this end, certain opportunities are being
explored and developments are possible in the near future.
NETWORK OPERATIONS - UNITED STATES
The company controls or shares control over cellular and PCS systems
operating in many of the largest metropolitan statistical and trading areas in
the U.S. See table below.
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OVERVIEW OF U.S. CELLULAR & PCS OPERATIONS
(AS OF JUNE 30, 1999 (UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED))
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MSA (1) Cellular Market State MSA Population (1) Percentage
RANK (000) Ownership (2)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2 Los Angeles .............. CA 15,116 82.3
5 Detroit-Ann Arbor............... MI 4,654 100.0
10 San Francisco-Oakland........... CA 3,989 47.0
12 Atlanta......................... GA 3,405 100.0
13 San Diego....................... CA 2,758 100.0
14 Minneapolis-St. Paul............ MN-WI 2,703 100.0
15 Phoenix......................... AZ 2,693 100.0
18 Seattle-Everett................. WA 2,219 99.1
19 Denver-Boulder.................. CO 2,219 100.0
23 Cleveland....................... OH 1,829 100.0
24 Portland........................ OR-WA 1,701 100.0
25 San Jose........................ CA 1,636 47.0
26 Kansas City..................... MO-KS 1,564 50.0
27 Cincinnati...................... OH-KY-IN 1,535 100.0
28 Sacramento...................... CA 1,528 49.8
Other........................... 37,078
Total U.S. Cellular 86,627
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MTA (3) PCS Market MTA Population (3) Percentage
RANK (000) Ownership (2)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
3 Chicago (5)..................... 12,700 50.0
7 Dallas (4)(5) .................. 10,800 40.0
13 Tampa (5)....................... 6,200 50.0
14 Houston (4)(5) ................. 5,900 40.0
15 Miami (5)....................... 5,900 50.0
17 New Orleans (5)................. 5,300 50.0
20 Milwaukee (5)................... 4,800 50.0
23 Richmond (5).................... 4,100 50.0
33 San Antonio (4)(5).............. 3,600 40.0
37 Jacksonville (5)................ 2,600 50.0
</TABLE>
(1) MSA refers to metropolitan statistical area. There are 306 MSAs in the
U.S., as determined by Rand McNally and adopted by the FCC to establish
cellular service areas. MSA 1997 population figures and rank are from the
1998 Paul Kagan Associates, Inc. Cellular Telephone Atlas.
(2) Percentage Ownership refers to the company's percentage ownership of the
entity operating in the relevant market.
(3) MTA refers to Metropolitan Trading Areas. There are 51 MTAs in the U.S.,
as determined by Rand McNally and adopted by the FCC to establish PCS
service areas. MTA 1997 population figures and rank are from the Paul
Kagan Associates, Inc. 1998 Cellular/PCS POP Book.
(4) PrimeCo's ownership percentage of Texas MTAs reflects its partnership with
Texas Utilities, which owns 20% of such MTAs.
(5) Following the restructuring contemplated by the company's agreement with
Bell Atlantic relating to PrimeCo, the company will own 100% of each of
the Chicago and Milwaukee MTAs and 80% of each of the Dallas, Houston and
San Antonio MTAs and will relinquish to Bell Atlantic interests in the
Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Richmond and Jacksonville MTAs. See page 11.
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The company's digital service in the U.S. is based on CDMA technology,
except in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it is based on TDMA technology. In
the fourth quarter of 1998, more than 40% of the company's peak minutes in the
U.S. were carried on its digital networks. Because the company offers dual-mode
cellular telephones capable of sending and receiving both analog and certain
digital transmissions, the company's analog and digital cellular customers can
roam to cellular markets which have roaming agreements in place with AirTouch.
The digital systems in the U.S. are substantially different from the GSM
standard employed in the U.K. and in most other countries.
The company expects that analog and digital technologies will continue
to coexist in the U.S. for the foreseeable future due to continued demand for
analog service and the fact that analog networks provide the only common roaming
platform currently available through the U.S. The company expects the majority
of its U.S. capital expenditures in the future to be spent on its digital
networks.
The company's cash costs in the U.S. consist primarily of selling
costs, as described below under "Distribution - United States", customer service
and billing costs, fees paid to the local telephone service company for
interconnection of cellular networks with the wireline telephone network, the
net cost of customers roaming to other networks and general and administrative
costs.
In addition, ongoing investments by the company in its U.S. networks
are necessary in order to increase coverage and capacity. These expenditures are
reflected as depreciation expense. In the future, the company believes the
majority of these expenditures will be directed towards increasing digital
coverage and capacity.
MARKETS - UNITED STATES
The company offers analog service in all of its U.S. markets and offers
digital service in most of its U.S. markets. In most of its U.S. markets, the
company offers customer calling services such as voice mail, call forwarding,
call waiting, three way calling, no answer and busy transfer. The company also
offers a variety of other enhanced features, including display messaging, which
allows a cellular phone to receive and store voice mail messages, short
alphanumeric messages and pages, even if the handset is in use or switched off,
and enhanced directory assistance, which enables callers to be connected to the
party whose number was requested without hanging up and redialing. In many U.S.
markets, the company has introduced a prepaid cellular calling program with no
monthly service charge, no contract commitment, and no billings. The majority of
the company's customers in the U.S. elect to receive long-distance service from
the company. Alternatively, customers can select a long-distance provider and be
billed directly by that carrier.
The company has a variety of pricing plans that differ from market to
market within the U.S. Certain pricing plans feature a fixed monthly access fee
and per minute charges while others offer a fixed monthly price for a bundle of
minutes with per minute charges for excess minutes. Most of the company's new
U.S. customers select pricing plans that require them to sign a service contract
for one or more years. The company believes that one of its competitive
strengths lies in its ability to offer customers choice through service and
handset pricing that appeal to different market segments. Customers seeking
safety and convenience are attracted to the low monthly access fees and
inexpensive handsets generally available with analog service. To meet the needs
of higher volume users, the company offers digital service with rate plans that
include higher monthly access fees and bundles of lower-priced minutes. The
company believes that its pricing plans are generally competitive with those
being offered by other providers in the markets in which they are applicable.
The U.S. wireless industry is increasingly moving towards a one-rate
pricing model which includes roaming and long distance at no extra charge. In
response to these programs, in 1998, in many of its U.S. markets, the company
began to offer simplified pricing plans in which
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customers can pay a single rate for all roaming minutes or use minutes included
in their bundles for roaming. In some cases, the cost to the company of customer
roaming is greater than the amount charged to the customer. As the company and
other wireless operators in the U.S. seek to maintain the profitability of these
simplified pricing plans, reciprocal roaming rates between wireless operators
have decreased and are expected to continue to decrease. As a result, roaming
rates have decreased the revenues the company receives from customers roaming
into its markets, but the expense it pays for its customers who roam has also
decreased. The company is focused on lowering the cost of roaming by proactively
negotiating roaming agreements and maximizing roaming activity with its
partners. In addition, the company expects that anticipated technological
developments, including handsets that can more easily be programmed with
preferred roaming carriers and tri-mode handsets that will allow roaming between
the company's cellular and PCS networks, will help the company manage its
roaming costs.
DISTRIBUTION - UNITED STATES
The company markets its cellular services in the U.S. under the
AirTouch Cellular name, with the exception of its systems in the San Francisco
Bay Area, Kansas and Missouri, which currently market service under the
CellularOne brand name. The company distributes its service directly to
customers in the U.S. through its own sales force, telemarketing centers and the
internet and indirectly through arrangements with independent agents such as
consumer electronics stores, specialized cellular stores, autowireless dealers
and department and other retail stores. In certain markets, the company's
cellular service is sold through resellers who, pursuant to FCC requirements,
are allowed to purchase blocks of cellular telephone numbers and to access
cellular services at wholesale rates for resale to the public. The company's
costs for attracting new customers, referred to as selling costs, consist
primarily of advertising and marketing costs, costs of direct distribution,
including costs related to the company's stores, compensation paid to
independent agents or to its own sales force and handset subsidies. AirTouch has
been taking steps to align selling costs with revenues by emphasizing residual
or account management payments to agents over upfront commissions and by
increasing the proportion of sales through company-controlled direct
distribution channels, which have historically been less costly.
PAGING - UNITED STATES
The company offers local, regional, statewide, and nationwide paging
services under the AirTouch Paging brand name in 32 states of the U.S. and the
District of Columbia. As of June 30, 1999, the company had approximately
3,511,000 paging units in service in the U.S. Based upon industry surveys, the
company is among the largest providers of paging services in the U.S. and the
only large paging company in the U.S. to achieve and maintain positive net
income and net funding back to the company. The company's growth strategy is to
offer new services, to provide superior customer service, to refine its
distribution channels and to expand into new geographic markets through
start-ups or acquisitions.
JOINT VENTURES - UNITED STATES
CMT PARTNERS. In September 1993, AirTouch and AT&T Wireless (at the
time, McCaw Cellular Communications Inc.) formed CMT Partners, an equally owned
partnership that holds interests in cellular systems operating in San Francisco
and San Jose, California; Dallas, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; and certain
adjacent suburban areas of these cities. In a related transaction, AirTouch
purchased McCaw's Wichita and Topeka, Kansas systems. CMT Partners is governed
by a four-person committee consisting of two members from each company. On July
29, 1999, AirTouch and AT&T Wireless announced plans to distribute CMT Partners'
ownership and operating responsibilities to AirTouch in the Kansas/Missouri
market and to AT&T Wireless in the Dallas market. AirTouch plans to introduce
the AirTouch Cellular brand in the Kansas/Missouri market in the first calendar
quarter of 2000. CMT Partners has a 15-year
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term, ending in 2008, which may be extended by either partner or shortened under
certain circumstances. Upon dissolution of CMT Partners, its remaining assets
will be sold unless either the company or AT&T Wireless elects to have the
assets distributed in kind to the partners.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS - UNITED STATES
On July 19, 1999, the company announced that it agreed to purchase
CommNet Cellular, Inc. for $764 million in cash plus debt expected to be
approximately $600 million at the close of the transaction. The transaction is
expected to close by the end of 1999 and is subject to regulatory approval.
CommNet's share of markets in most of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah and Wyoming and parts of Idaho, Iowa and New Mexico gives it access
to approximately 3.6 million potential customers. Currently, it has
approximately 360,000 proportionate customers.
On August 3, 1999, AirTouch and Bell Atlantic Corporation announced an
agreement to restructure their ownership interests in PrimeCo Personal
Communications, L.P., a partnership formed in 1994 and which provides PCS
services in more than 30 major cities. Under the agreement, AirTouch will assume
Bell Atlantic's ownership interest in PrimeCo which will continue to operate
five metropolitan trading areas: Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and
the Texas markets of Dallas, San Antonio and Houston. Bell Atlantic will assume
ownership of operations in the five other PrimeCo metropolitan trading areas:
Richmond, Virginia; New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Florida markets of
Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami. The impact of this agreement on proportionate
customers is not material. Separately, the company and Bell Atlantic recently
reached an out-of-court settlement of all litigation currently pending before
the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California relating to
their TOMCOM, L.P. partnership, which was formed to provide technical, operating
and marketing services for the partners' U.S. wireless properties. As a result,
TOMCOM has been dissolved.
INTRODUCTION - ASIA PACIFIC REGION
The company has a number of interests in the Asia Pacific Region as
described below. Although the portfolio is managed from the U.S., each interest
operates as a standalone venture dealing with national or regional business
issues arising from running a wireless telecommunications business in the
particular country or region.
ASIA PACIFIC INTERESTS
AUSTRALIA (VODAFONE HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED). Vodafone Holdings
(formerly Vodafone Network Pty), in which the company has a 91% shareholding, is
one of three GSM 900 network operators in Australia. In spite of intense
competitor activity, Vodafone Holdings achieved strong customer growth and a 5%
increase in market share in its last financial year. As of June 30, 1999,
Vodafone Holdings had over 1,070,000 customers.
NEW ZEALAND (VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND LIMITED). On October 30, 1998, the
company completed the purchase of a 100% interest in New Zealand's only GSM
cellular network operator for NZD 750 million (approximately $375 million). As
of June 30, 1999, over 230,000 customers were connected to this network.
FIJI (VODAFONE FIJI LIMITED). The company has a 49% interest in
Vodafone Fiji Limited, the sole GSM operator in Fiji. As of June 30, 1999, the
customer base had increased to over 10,000 from 5,000 at March 31, 1998.
The company is considering an initial public offering of its
Australasian businesses during the first half of calendar year 2000, but will
maintain its controlling shareholding after any such offering. To assist with a
possible offering, on August 17, 1999, Vodafone Holdings Australia Pty Limited
announced that it had entered into agreements, contingent on an initial public
offering of its shares, with a wholly owned subsidiary of the company to acquire
the entire issued share capital of Vodafone New Zealand
11
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Limited and 49% of the issued share capital of Vodafone Fiji Limited.
INDIA (RPG CELLULAR SERVICES, LTD.; RPG CELLCOM LTD.). The company has
interests in two separate ventures offering cellular service in India. RPG
Cellular, in which the company has a 20.6% interest, is one of two operators
providing service in Madras, India's fourth largest city. In addition, the
company has a 49% interest in RPG Cellcom, which is one of two cellular
operators providing service in Madhya Pradesh, one of India's largest and most
populous states.
JAPAN (DIGITAL PHONE GROUP; DIGITAL TU-KA). The company has interests
in two separate ventures offering cellular service in Japan. Digital Phone
Group, in which the company has variable interests (13% - 27%) in different
parts of the group, covers Japan's most densely populated area, the
Tokyo-to-Osaka corridor, including the Tokyo, Tokai and Kansai regions where it
is one of four operators. As of June 30, 1999, Digital Phone Group had over
4,400,000 customers.
Digital TU-KA, in which the company has a 4.5% interest, provides
coverage to the rest of Japan. As of June 30, 1999, Digital TU-KA had almost
2,400,000 customers. Customers can make or receive calls anywhere within the
combined territories of the company's two Japanese ventures.
SOUTH KOREA (SHINSEGI TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.). The company has an
11.7% interest in Shinsegi Telecommunications, one of five digital service
providers in South Korea. Shinsegi, which has branded its service as Power
Digital 0017, had over 2,680,000 customers as of June 30, 1999.
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA (EMEA)
INTRODUCTION - EMEA
The company has a number of interests in the EMEA regions which are
managed from the U.K. and the Netherlands. Interests in Europe and separately
Middle East and Africa are described below. Similar to the company's interests
in the Asia Pacific Region, its interests in the EMEA region operate as
standalone ventures dealing with national and regional business issues.
EUROPEAN INTERESTS
BELGIUM (BELGACOM MOBILE). The company owns a 25% interest in Belgacom
Mobile, which was Belgium's first digital and analog cellular operation. Digital
service is provided under the Proximus brand name. Belgacom Mobile had over
1,575,000 customers as of June 30, 1999.
FRANCE (SOCIETE FRANCAISE DU RADIOTELEPHONE SA (SFR)). SFR, in which
the company has a 20% shareholding, is one of three operators in France. In the
year ended March 31, 1999, the French cellular market demonstrated continued
strong growth, with penetration increasing to over 21% from 11% a year earlier.
SFR had approximately 5,200,000 customers at June 30, 1999, representing
approximately 37% of the French market.
GERMANY (MANNESMANN MOBILFUNK GMBH). The company has a 34.8% interest
(the other 65.2% interest being owned by Mannesmann A.G.) in Mannesmann
Mobilfunk, which is the largest of the four mobile operators in Germany and was
the first operator to offer a commercial GSM service in Germany, launching its
service in June 1992. Mannesmann Mobilfunk, which operates a GSM 900 network
under the name of D2 Privat, had approximately 7,300,000 customers as of June
30, 1999, representing approximately 42% of the German market.
Mannesmann Mobilfunk's principal competitor in the German market is T
Mobil, which operates the other GSM 900 network in Germany. T Mobil, which is
owned by Deutsche Telekom, had a market share estimated at just under 41%.
Mannesmann Mobilfunk's other two competitors, E-Plus Mobilfunk and E2, both
operate cellular networks that utilize DCS 1800 technology.
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Market penetration for Germany grew from 11% in March 1998 to just
under 19% in March 1999 and further growth is expected in the future.
GERMANY (E-PLUS MOBILFUNK GMBH). The company also has a shareholding of
17.2% in E-Plus, the third of the four cellular operators licensed in Germany.
As a condition to the European Commission's approval of the merger of
Vodafone Group and AirTouch, Vodafone Group entered into an undertaking to
dispose of its interest in E-Plus following completion of the merger.
GREECE (PANAFON SA). The company has a 55% interest in Panafon, the
leading cellular operator in Greece. Panafon reported significant growth in the
financial year ended March 31, 1999 in spite of increased competition following
the launch of a third operator, utilizing DCS 1800 technology, in March 1998.
Panafon has maintained its local market leadership and as of June 30, 1999, had
nearly 1,400,000 customers connected to its digital GSM network, representing a
market share of about 47%.
In December 1998, a 15% minority shareholding in Panafon was
successfully listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. The company's shareholding
remained unchanged. Panafon's shares also trade in the form of Global Depositary
shares on the London Stock Exchange and are quoted on NASDAQ. As of August 31,
1999, Panafon had a market capitalization of 2,306 billion Greek drachmas ($7.5
billion), making it one of the top five companies by market capitalization on
the Athens Stock Exchange.
HUNGARY (PRIMATEL). In June 1999, a venture in which the company has a
50.1% equity interest won the bid for the third digital wireless
telecommunications license in Hungary. The company expects that this venture
will be equipped to provide service by the end of 1999.
ITALY (OMNITEL PRONTO ITALIA, S.P.A.). On August 26, 1999, the company
announced that it had raised its stake in Omnitel, Italy's second largest
cellular provider, to 21.6% from 17.8% by exercising an option. Omnitel had
7,878,000 customers as of June 30, 1999, representing approximately 32% of the
market.
MALTA (VODAFONE MALTA LIMITED). Vodafone Malta, in which the company
has an 80% interest, is the sole cellular network operator in Malta, offering
both analog and digital service. Its customer base at June 30, 1999 was nearly
25,000.
NETHERLANDS (LIBERTEL NV). The company has a 70% shareholding in
Libertel (previously Libertel Groep BV), a digital GSM network operator. ING
Bank, which previously owned 30% of Libertel, offered a minority shareholding on
the Amsterdam Stock Exchange through an initial public offering in June 1999.
Following the offering, the company's shareholding in Libertel remained
unchanged, while ING retained a 5% shareholding in Libertel. As of August 31,
1999, Libertel had a market capitalization of (euro)5.6 billion ($5.9 billion).
Libertel Network BV, formerly Libertel BV, a 100% subsidiary of
Libertel, performed well during its last financial year, following the entry of
three new competitors. The Netherlands is now the only European country to have
five competing wireless telecommunications operators. In spite of this, Libertel
had more than 1,676,000 customers at June 30, 1999, providing a market share of
approximately 33%. Of these customers, approximately half are now connected to
the prepaid service launched at the end of 1997.
POLAND (POLKOMTEL S.A.). The company has a 19.3% interest in Polkomtel,
which is one of three cellular operators in Poland. As of June 30, Polkomtel's
service, called Plus GSM, had more than 1,110,000 customers.
PORTUGAL (TELECEL COMUNICACOES PESSOAIS S.A.). The company has a
majority interest of 50.9% in Telecel, one of three cellular operators in
Portugal, which had 1,481,000 customers at June 30, 1999. Telecel's stock is
listed on the Lisbon Stock Exchange and, as of August 31,
13
<PAGE>
1999, its market was (euro)2.6 billion ($2.8 billion).
ROMANIA. (MOBIFON SA). The company has a 10% interest in Mobifon, which
is one of two cellular operators in Romania, and has an option to purchase an
additional 10% interest. Mobifon's service, branded CONNEX GSM, had
approximately 430,000 customers as of June 30, 1999.
SPAIN (AIRTEL MOVILES S.A.). The company has a 21.7% interest in
Airtel, one of three operators in Spain. Airtel had nearly 3,198,000 customers
as of June 30, 1999, making it the second largest operator in the Spanish market
behind Telefonica Moviles.
SWEDEN (EUROPOLITAN HOLDINGS AB). The company has a majority
shareholding of 71.1% in Europolitan, which operates one of three GSM networks
in Sweden. Europolitan's stock is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. As of
June 30, 1999, Europolitan had approximately 728,000 customers connected to its
network. As of August 31, 1999, Europolitan's market capitalization was
approximately SEK 31.5 billion ($3.8 billion).
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICAN - INTERESTS
EGYPT (MISRFONE SA). The company has a 60% shareholding in Misrfone,
Egypt's second GSM operator, which opened for service on November 30, 1998 and
operates under the name Click GSM. Initial customer uptake has been very
encouraging and, as of June 30, 1999, the customer base had increased to
approximately 175,000. Misrfone's trading performance exceeded the company's
expectations and, from the initial network coverage around Cairo, development
will now focus on other major cities and the Nile Delta.
SOUTH AFRICA (VODACOM GROUP PTY LIMITED). The company has a 31.5%
interest in Vodacom Group, whose wholly owned subsidiary, Vodacom Pty Limited,
operates one of two GSM networks in the Republic of South Africa. Customers at
June 30, 1999 exceeded 2,180,000.
UGANDA (CELTEL LIMITED). Celtel, in which the company has a 36.8%
shareholding, is one of two GSM network operators in Uganda. Its customer base
increased to approximately 16,000 as of June 30, 1999.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS - EUROPE
The company is in a consortium competing in a tender for a GSM 1800
wireless network license in the Czech Republic.
GLOBALSTAR
In addition to its worldwide cellular and PCS operations, the company
holds an 8.3% interest in Globalstar, L.P., a limited partnership led by Loral
Space & Communications Corporation Ltd. and QUALCOMM, Inc. that will construct
and operate a 48 satellite low earth orbit constellation utilizing CDMA
technology designed to offer wireless communications services in virtually every
populated area of the world. Commercial service is expected to begin by the end
of 1999. The company has the exclusive right to provide Globalstar services in
Australia, the Caribbean, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta,
South Africa, Swaziland, the U.K., the U.S., and, through partnerships with
Loral, in Canada and Mexico.
14
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF WORLDWIDE CELLULAR AND PCS OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Market Venture Name Proportionate Proportionate
Percentage POPS Customers as of
Ownership (millions) June 30, 1999
(1) (2) (000)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
UNITED KINGDOM Vodafone 100.0 58.4 6,162
UNITED STATES AND ASIA PACIFIC
Australia Vodafone 91.0 17.0 976
Fiji Vodafone 49.0 0.4 5
India RPG Cellular 20.6-49.0 27.4 12
Japan Digital Phone Group 13.0-27.0 10.8 615
Digital TU-KA Group 4.5 2.2 107
New Zealand Vodafone 100 3.8 231
South Korea Shinsegi 017 11.7 5.2 306
United States AirTouch Cellular )
Cellular One } varies 96.5 8,951
PrimeCo )
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Belgium Belgacom Mobile 25.0 2.5 394
Egypt Misrfone 60.0 37.8 105
France SFR 20.0 11.7 1,032
Germany Mannesmann Mobilfunk 34.8 28.6 2,537
E-Plus Mobilfunk(3) 17.2 14.2 n/a(3)
Greece Panafon 55.0 5.8 768
Hungary Primatel 50.1 n/a -
Italy Omnitel Pronto Italia 17.8(4) 10.2 1,402
Malta Vodafone 80.0 0.3 20
Netherlands Libertel 70.0 11.0 1,173
Poland Polkomtel 19.3 7.4 216
Portugal Telecel 50.9 5.0 754
Romania MobiFon 10.0(5) 2.3 43
South Africa Vodacom 31.5 12.8 689
Spain Airtel 21.7 8.5 694
Sweden Europolitan 71.1 6.3 517
Uganda Celtel 36.8 7.7 6
Total...................... -- 393.8 27,715
<FN>
- -------------------------
(1) Exclusive of any options, warrants or other rights to increase ownership as
of the date of this document.
(2) Proportionate POPS are at March 31, 1999.
(3) As a condition to the European Commission's approval of the merger of
Vodafone Group and AirTouch, Vodafone Group entered into an undertaking to
dispose of its interest in E-Plus.
(4) Indirect ownership interest through Pronto Italia S.p.A. In January 1999,
AirTouch exercised an option to increase its ownership interest from 15.5%
to 17.8%. The company exercised an additional option on August 25, 1999 to
bring its total ownership interest to 21.6%.
(5) The company holds an option to purchase an additional 10%.
</FN>
</TABLE>
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REGULATION
The company and its interests are subject to regulation imposed by each
of the countries in which they operate and, within Europe, by the European
Union. Such regulation is generally in the form of industry-specific legislation
and competition, or antitrust, law.
The following briefly describes the broad regulatory framework and
material telecommunication licenses in certain regions in which the company has
a significant interest.
EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union has taken on an increasingly important role in
regulating the telecommunications industry within Europe. Over the past nine
years, the European Union has implemented legislation to liberalize the European
telecommunications market and to harmonize the relevant laws in each of the E.U.
Member States.
The European Commission is currently considering further changes to
take into account the current state of liberalization of the market and address
the possible convergence between fixed and mobile telephony.
There are several important directives currently being implemented by
the Member States. Each Member State must bring its local law into conformity
with these directives or get a special exemption or extension from the European
Commission. The European Union Interconnect Directive (97/33/EC) is intended to
guarantee the rights of operators to obtain interconnection with networks and
services of others both domestically and internationally. The European Union
Licensing Directive (97/13/EC) significantly reduces the scope for introducing
new licensing conditions and amending existing ones. The ONP "Numbering"
Directive (98/61/EC) requires that geographic and non-geographic number
portability is available on request from both fixed and mobile carriers.
UNITED KINGDOM
The principal domestic legislation governing the provision of
telecommunications services in the U.K. is the Telecommunications Act 1984 and
the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1998. In order to operate a mobile
telecommunications system in the U.K., licenses must generally be obtained under
both of these acts.
Under its Telecommunications Act license granted on December 9, 1993,
which is for a minimum of 25 years from that date revocable by 10 years notice
given after December 9, 2008, and subject to certain conditions, Vodafone is
licensed to run telecommunications systems of every type in the U.K., including
digital and analog cellular telecommunications systems, personal
telecommunications networks and fixed telecommunications systems. A
supplementary license was issued to Vodafone on December 20, 1996, which permits
Vodafone to own and operate international network facilities.
Under its Wireless Telegraphy Act license, Vodafone operates its
network in specified radio frequency bands. The license continues indefinitely
subject to revocation or modification in certain limited circumstances.
Each U.K. public telecommunications operator, which we refer to as a
PTO, including Vodafone, is obliged under its license to permit the connection
of any other PTO to its network. Vodafone has interconnection agreements with
nine U.K. network operators. Under these interconnection agreements, Vodafone
delivers calls to the interconnect operator and pays them for delivering the
calls to the called parties. The interconnect operators deliver calls to
Vodafone and pay Vodafone to deliver the calls to Vodafone customers.
The Director General of Telecommunications, the U.K. telecommunications
industry regulator, is responsible for enforcing license conditions and may make
orders, enforceable in the courts, to secure compliance.
Following an inquiry by the Director General, on December 15, 1998, the
Monopolies and Mergers Commission found that the fees charged by the wireless
operators, as well as their charges for unanswered and diverted calls, operated
against the
16
<PAGE>
public interest. The Commission recommended that changes be made to the licenses
of these wireless operators to remedy the situation. As a result of the inquiry,
the Director General amended the licenses of the relevant wireless operators on
March 31, 1999. The relevant changes to Vodafone's license reduce termination
charges to fixed operators and notional revenue from calls to wireless phones,
although Vodafone's actual revenue is expected to increase due to increased
volume and the mix of call traffic.
The U.K. government is in the process of implementing the various
European Directives which affect telecommunications.
UNITED STATES
The company's U.S. cellular, paging and PCS licenses are issued and
regulated by the FCC. In addition, the company's U.S. wireless operations are
subject to public utility regulation in the states in which service is provided
and to local regulations. States are preempted from regulating cellular, PCS and
paging rates and market entry but may regulate certain other terms and
conditions of service. The location and construction of wireless service
facilities are also subject to state or local zoning, land use and other local
regulation and fees.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 fundamentally changed the rules and
regulations under which all U.S. providers of telecommunications services
operate. Although it did not impose rate regulation on wireless operators, the
1996 Act modified certain requirements for interconnection between local
telephone companies and commercial mobile radio service carriers. Obligations
were imposed on all telecommunications providers, including wireless providers,
in a variety of areas. For the first time, wireless operators, including the
company, were obligated to pay into universal telephone service funds created by
the U.S. government, the proceeds of which are designated to reduce the cost of
basic telephone service to high cost areas and low income subscribers, and to
subsidize telecommunications for schools and libraries. Second, pursuant to
provisions of the 1996 Act, the company executed new cellular interconnection
agreements with the major local carriers in its managed markets to conform with
the new Act.
In addition, although not specifically required for wireless carriers
by the 1996 Act, the FCC has adopted rules requiring carriers such as the
company to provide customers in the U.S. with local number portability by
November 24, 2002. Local number portability is the ability for customers to
retain their telephone numbers should they choose to switch landline or wireless
carriers. The company does not expect these costs to have a material impact on
its results of operations or liquidity.
The company will be required to upgrade its cellular and PCS networks
in the U.S. to provide certain functionality to authorized government agencies.
The FCC has adopted rules requiring wireless carriers to electronically provide
"Emergency 911" authorities with the physical location of wireless callers
requesting emergency assistance. In addition, the Communications Assistance Law
Enforcement Act, or CALEA, will require the company to provide law enforcement
agencies with certain network functionality and other assistance in criminal
investigations, including digital wiretapping capabilities. The FCC rules
concerning "Emergency 911" services and CALEA both require the responsible
government agencies to reimburse the company for its costs incurred to upgrade
its networks and to provide on-going assistance to law enforcement agencies.
However, the company can provide no assurance that all of its costs will be
recoverable.
OTHER JURISDICTIONS
The company's other cellular and paging operations provide services
pursuant to the terms of licenses granted by the telecommunications agency or
similar supervisory authority in the various countries. Such agencies typically
also promulgate and enforce regulations regarding the construction and operation
of network equipment. In certain countries, the company faces regulatory
obstacles such as legal restrictions on the percentage ownership of
telecommunications licensees by foreign entities and transfer restrictions or
governmental approval requirements regarding changes in the ownership of such
licensees.
GREECE. Mobile telecommunications operators in Greece are regulated by
the Telecommunications
17
<PAGE>
Law together with related presidential decrees and ministerial decisions.
Panafon S.A. was awarded a 20 year license to operate a GSM network on
August 4, 1992. However, Panafon currently does not have exclusive access to the
spectrum it was originally awarded, because the spectrum is occupied by OTE
Hellenic Organisation S.A., the dominant fixed line operator, contrary to the
exclusivity granted. Panafon has formally raised this issue with the European
Commission to require OTE to vacate the spectrum.
The Greek government is currently considering the introduction of a new
regulatory framework which is likely to contain provisions regarding universal
service obligations and interconnection issues. The Greek legal environment is,
thereafter, expected to conform with the liberalization of telecommunications
activities as required and applied by EU Law and practice.
THE NETHERLANDS. In December 1998, a new Telecommunication Act came
into force which regulates mobile telecommunications operators in the
Netherlands. This act implemented various European Directives relating to the
harmonization and liberalization of telecommunications, including abolishing the
requirement to obtain a licence for telecommunications related activities.
However, a license is still required for the use of the relevant spectrum.
At the time of the implementation of the Telecommunications Act,
Libertel had already received licenses for GSM 900 and GSM 1800 spectrum and has
the rights to use the GSM 1800 spectrum until February 25, 2013. As part of the
new licensing arrangement, Libertel is subject to a condition requiring national
roaming.
The Dutch Regulator is currently conducting an inquiry as to whether
Libertel has significant market power in the mobile market in the Netherlands. A
determination that Libertel has significant market power may lead to changes in
pricing.
GERMANY. The German telecommunications regulator, the Regulator of
Telecommunications and Posts (Reg TP), was created on January 1, 1998 and is now
responsible for licensing the radio frequency spectrum. Mannesmann Mobilfunk has
applied for GSM 1800 frequencies, which it hopes to acquire in the spectrum
auctions to be held in October 1999. UMTS licenses will be auctioned in early
2000.
The RegTP is currently evaluating if any of the four German mobile
operators should be declared market dominant (or, alternatively, to have
significant market power) in the German wireless telecommunications market. If
declared dominant, a possible change in pricing may be imposed.
AUSTRALIA. Vodafone Holdings operates in a market regulated by the
Telecommunications Act 1997, Parts XIB and XIC of the Trade Practices Act 1974
and the Radiocommunications Act.
Vodafone Holdings has obtained a carrier license under the
Telecommunications Act, and it holds licenses under the Radiocommunications Act.
It also has licenses to use the 900/1800 MHz spectrum allocated to it for
renewable 5 year terms and 15 years, respectively.
All carriers are required to contribute to the costs of national
service provision in loss-making areas such as rural Australia. The incumbent
fixed operator has the obligation to provide this service.
The Australian government is proposing to auction further 1800 spectrum
and UMTS spectrum destined for third generation services.
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<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
INCREASED COMPETITION MAY REDUCE REVENUES
The company and its ventures face intensifying competition in each of
their markets.
Increased competition has led to declines in the prices the company
charges for its wireless services and is expected to lead to further price
declines in the future. The company may in some countries be able to match or
exceed declines in average revenue per customer with reductions in operating
cash costs per customer. However, there can be no assurance that the company
will be able to do so. If it cannot, the company may experience decreased
profitability, although this could be mitigated by increasing numbers of
customers.
Competition could also lead to a decrease in the rate at which the
company adds new customers and even to a decrease in the size of the company's
customer base as customers choose to receive wireless service from other
providers. Customer deactivations are measured by the company's churn rate.
There can be no assurance that the company will not experience increases in
churn rates, particularly as competition intensifies. An increase in churn rates
could adversely affect profitability because the company would experience lower
revenues and increased selling costs to replace customers, although such costs
would have a future revenue stream attached to mitigate the impact.
EXPECTED BENEFITS FROM INCREASED RATE
OF INVESTMENT IN NETWORKS AND NEW
TECHNOLOGY MAY NOT BE REALIZED
The company expects that it will be required to make substantial future
investments in its wireless networks due to customer growth, increased usage,
the acquisition of third generation licenses and the need to offer new services
and greater functionality. Accordingly, the rate of the company's capital
expenditures in future years could materially exceed that experienced by the
company in recent years. The operations of the company and its ventures depend
in part upon the successful deployment of continuously evolving wireless
telecommunications technologies. The company uses technologies from a number of
vendors and makes significant capital expenditures in connection with the
deployment of such technologies. There can be no assurance that technologies
will be developed according to anticipated schedules, that they will perform
according to expectations or that they will achieve commercial acceptance. The
failure of vendor performance or technology performance to meet the company's
expectations or the failure of a technology to achieve commercial acceptance
could result in additional capital expenditures by the company or a reduction in
profitability due to the recognition of the impairment of assets.
WIRELESS LICENSES MAY NOT BE RENEWED
The company's wireless licenses are granted for specific periods of
time. The company's U.K. license was granted in 1993 for a minimum of 25 years
subject to certain conditions. The most significant U.S. cellular and paging
licenses are granted for a period of ten years. Based upon its prior experience
with expired licenses and upon FCC rules establishing a presumption in favor of
licensees that have substantially complied with their regulatory obligations
during the license period, the company believes that each of its U.S. licenses
will be renewed as they expire. The terms of the licenses granted to the
company's non-U.K. and non-U.S. ventures and conditions for license renewal vary
from country to country. In some countries, there is no specified mechanism for
license renewal and accordingly it is not certain what criteria will be used by
the governments of those countries to determine whether the licenses should be
renewed. There can be no assurance that any license will be renewed.
THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE
A CONTROLLING INTEREST IN MANY OF
ITS NON-U.K. AND NON-U.S. VENTURES
Many of the company's interests in its non-U.K. and non-U.S. wireless
licenses are held through entities in which the company is a significant but not
controlling owner. Under the governing documents for certain of these
partnerships and corporations, certain key matters such as the approval of
business plans and decisions as to the timing and amount of cash distributions
require the consent of the company's partners. In others, these matters may be
19
<PAGE>
approved without the consent of the company. Although the company has not been
materially constrained by the nature of its wireless ownership interests from
pursuing its corporate objectives, no assurance can be given that it will not
experience difficulty in this regard in the future. The company may enter into
similar arrangements as it participates in ventures formed to pursue additional
opportunities.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONDITIONS COULD
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COMPANY'S VENTURES
The company has investments in operations in numerous countries outside
the U.K. and operating cash flow and dividends from these investments represent
a substantial portion of total operating cash flow available to the company.
Investments in operations in countries around the world are subject to risks and
uncertainties which may include taxation, nationalization, inflation, currency
fluctuations, and increased regulation. Certain Asian countries have recently
experienced severe economic turmoil, resulting in depressed business conditions,
volatility in local currencies and ongoing financial market dislocations. In
addition to the negative impact that such economic turmoil could have on usage
of wireless services, it could also have a negative effect on the ability of the
company's partners to provide their share of the ventures' funding requirements.
There can be no assurance that the foregoing risks and uncertainties or that
present or future economic turmoil or dislocations will not have a material
adverse effect on the company's business, operating results and financial
condition.
THE COMPANY'S ATTEMPTS TO MITIGATE
EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS
MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL
Foreign currency exchange rates may be material to the company's
results of operations. The company attempts to mitigate in part the effect of
certain foreign currency fluctuations through the use of foreign currency
contracts and foreign currency denominated credit arrangements. There can be no
assurance that the company will be successful in its foreign currency hedging
efforts.
REGULATORY DECISIONS AND CHANGES IN
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT COULD
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS
The company must comply with an extensive range of requirements that
regulate and supervise the licensing, construction and operation of its
telecommunications network and services in the U.K., the U.S. and in the other
countries in which the company has ventures. In addition, there are agencies
which regulate and supervise the allocation of frequency spectrum and which
monitor and enforce competition laws which apply to the wireless
telecommunications industry.
The company's business, financial condition and results of operations
and those of its joint ventures and associated companies could be materially
adversely affected by changes in law, regulation or government policies directed
at the mobile market. In particular, decisions by regulators regarding the
granting, amendment or renewal of licenses, to the company or to third parties,
could adversely affect the company's results of operations. The company cannot
provide any assurances that no government will issue telecommunications licenses
to new operators whose services will compete with it.
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES MAY
INCREASE COMPETITION AND RENDER
THE COMPANY'S TECHNOLOGIES OBSOLETE
The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid and significant
changes in technology. The company faces competition from other communications
technologies, including cordless technologies, satellite-based systems and
private and shared radio networks. In addition, the company may face increasing
competition from technologies currently being developed or which may be
developed in the future. The company cannot accurately predict how emerging and
future technological changes will affect its operations or the competitiveness
of its services. Similarly, the company cannot provide any assurances that the
technologies that it employs will not become obsolete or subject to intense
competition from new technologies in the future.
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EFFORTS TO ADDRESS YEAR 2000 ISSUES BY
THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT THIRD PARTIES
MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL
Many of the company's mission critical systems -- those systems whose
failure poses a risk of disruption to the company's ability to provide wireless
services, to collect revenues, to meet safety standards, or to comply with legal
standards -- are affected by the year 2000 issue, which refers to the inability
of computerized systems and embedded technology to process dates or operate
beyond December 31, 1999. These mission critical systems include, among others,
systems that constitute the company's wireless networks, billing systems and
customer care systems. The company has implemented a comprehensive plan to
address the year 2000 issue in the mission critical systems of its consolidated
markets. Based on the current progress of the company in implementing the plan
and the assumption that certain third parties, among them those who supply
technology employed in the company's mission critical systems and those whose
networks and systems, including landline telecommunications networks,
long-distance networks, the networks of other wireless service providers and
networks operated by utilities, are interconnected with the company's system,
will meet their commitment on the year 2000 issue, the company believes that it
can prevent serious disruption to the mission critical systems of its
consolidated markets. No assurance can be given, however, that the company or
its suppliers will be successful in its efforts to correct the company's mission
critical systems or that third parties with whom the company's systems
interconnect will correct their systems. If the company, its suppliers or the
third parties are unsuccessful in these efforts, such an outcome could have a
material adverse impact on the company's financial condition or results of
operations.
THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON THE COMPANY OF ANY ACTUAL
OR PERCEIVED HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF RADIOWAVES FROM
MOBILE TELEPHONES, TRANSMITTERS AND ASSOCIATED
EQUIPMENT IS UNKNOWN
The company is not aware that any link between radiowave transmission
and long-term health issues has been substantiated. However, there can be no
assurance that the company may not be adversely affected by the actual or
perceived risks associated with radiowave transmission.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS REGARDING
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS OF THE
COMPANY MAY PROVE INACCURATE
This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect
to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Vodafone
AirTouch and certain of the plans and objectives of Vodafone AirTouch with
respect to these items. In particular, among other statements, certain
statements under "Business Strategy" including, without limitation, those
concerning Vodafone AirTouch's expectations and plans, strategy, management's
objectives, trends in market shares, market standing, overall market trends,
risk management, exchange rates and revenues and general and administration
expenses, contain forward-looking statements concerning Vodafone AirTouch's
operations, performance and financial condition. Such statements may generally,
but not always, be identified by their use of words such as "anticipates",
"should", "expects" or "believes". By their nature, forward-looking statements
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, the following:
o changes in economic conditions in markets served by the operations of the
company which would adversely affect the level of demand for wireless
services,
o greater than anticipated competitive activity requiring reduced pricing
and/or new product offerings or resulting in higher costs of acquiring new
customers or slower customer growth,
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o greater than expected growth in customers and usage, requiring increased
investment in network capacity,
o the impact of new business opportunities requiring significant up-front
investments,
o the impact on capital spending from the deployment of new technologies
o the possibility that technologies will not perform according to
expectations or that vendors' performance will not meet the company's
requirements, and
o the ability of the company to achieve the anticipated cost savings or
revenue enhancements following its merger with AirTouch.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the meanings
shown below:
'CDMA' - Code Division Multiple Access, which is a continuous digital
transmission technology that uses a coding system to mix discrete voice signals
together during transmission and then separates the signals at the end of
transmission.
'churn' - customer disconnections from cellular telephone systems. The
'churn rate' is the number of customers who disconnect from a network in a given
period or have their service terminated, divided by the average number of
customers for the same period.
'DCS 1800' - Digital Communications Standard for Cellular
Communications, a standard for digital mobile telephone transmissions at a
frequency of 1800 MHz (also referred to as PCN and GSM 1800).
'FCC' - The Federal Communications Commission.
'GSM' - Global System for Mobile Communications, a standard for digital
mobile telephone transmissions at a frequency of 900 MHz, 1800 MHz or 1900 MHz.
'market penetration' - total number of customers in a market divided by
population, expressed as a percentage.
'MSC' - mobile switching centers.
'MTX' - Computerized Mobile Telephone Exchange.
'proportionate customers' - the number of customers of a venture
multiplied by Vodafone AirTouch's ownership interest in the venture.
'Proportionate POP's' - The estimated population of a licensed market
multiplied by Vodafone AirTouch's ownership in a licensee operating in the
market as of the date specified, including networks under construction and
markets of certain trade investments not included in proportionate financial
results.
'TDMA' - Time Division Multiple Access, a digital transmission
technology that breaks voice signals into sequential pieces of a defined length,
places each piece into an information conduit at specific intervals and then
reconstructs the pieces at the end of the conduit.
'U.K.' - United Kingdom
'U.S.' - United States
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
VODAFONE AIRTOUCH
PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Registrant)
Dated: September 3, 1999 By: /s/ Stephen Scott
-----------------------------------
Name: Stephen Scott
Title: Company Secretary
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