MEDIACOM-RELEASE-VODAFONE
VODAFONE DOUBLES CUSTOMER BASE IN LESS THAN A YEAR
The Vodafone mobile phone network in New Zealand has recently celebrated signing its 290,000th customer.
Figures released today showed an increase in excess of 160,000 customers in the 11 months since Vodafone arrived in New
Zealand, with subscriber numbers reaching 293,000 at the end of September 1999.
That represents a growth in customer numbers of 123 per cent since November 1998. This means Vodafone has more than
doubled its customer base in less than a year.
Since Vodafone's entry into the market, the total number of people owning mobile phones has gone from 17 per cent to an
estimated 25 per cent.
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd Managing Director John Rohan says the significant growth in the company's customer base
reflects the investment and energy Vodafone has brought to New Zealand.
"Our strategy is to make it possible for every New Zealander to own a mobile phone, says Mr Rohan. "And our willingness
to invest significantly in this market is bearing fruit.
"In our fist two years in New Zealand we are investing more than $200 million, in preparation for the continuing growth
of our customer numbers. We're making it easy for Kiwis to join the Vodafone network by opening new retail stores all
around the country and developing strong retail alliances" he says.
On a regional basis for the quarter ending in September Vodafone Australasia's customer base increased 11 per cent from
the previous quarter and now stands at 1,189,000. Vodafone Fiji realised a 43 per cent quarterly increase in customers
and now has a total of 14,600 subscribers.
About Vodafone
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd is part of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest mobile telecommunications company with
31.4 million customers, excluding paging customers. The company has interests in 24 countries over five continents.
Vodafone New Zealand now has in excess of 290,000 customers on its fully digital network and provides coverage to over
96% of the population.
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