Europolitan Vodafone appeals the decision of PTS

3/13/2002 3:39 AM EST

Europolitan Vodafone to appeal against the decision of the Swedish
National Post and Telecom Agency

Europolitan Vodafone is today lodging an appeal against the Swedish
National Post and Telecom Agency's (PTS) decision to classify
Europolitan Vodafone as a mobile operator with "significant market
power" - so-called SMP status - in the mobile and interconnect traffic
markets. Europolitan Vodafone is demanding that the decision be
reversed.

"If PTS is to give SMP status to all mobile companies on principle and
use authority decisions to set all interconnect traffic fees, this will
in effect lead to a re-regulation of the Swedish telecoms market. A
regulated market generally means inferior services and higher prices
compared with a free market. And it also puts the brakes on the
willingness of companies to invest," says Jon Risfelt, President and CEO
of Europolitan Vodafone.

PTS decided in February that Europolitan Vodafone qualified for SMP
status. This decision was based on its view that Europolitan Vodafone
has significant power in the Swedish mobile and interconnect traffic
markets. According to EU regulations and the Swedish Telecommunications
Act, a company may be regarded as having significant power when its
market share exceeds 25 per cent.

"According to PTS, Europolitan Vodafone's share of the interconnect
market is just over 13 per cent. No other European country has deviated
so radically from the 25 per cent rule and it is hardly likely that the
legislation was intended to make this possible. PTS has made the wrong
decision and it will of course have a negative impact on Europolitan
Vodafone. It will also be detrimental to the dynamic development of the
Swedish telecoms market," says Jon Risfelt in his comments.

In Europolitan Vodafone's opinion, PTS's interpretation of the Swedish
Telecommunications Act conflicts with EC law. PTS is confusing current
legislation with regulations that have not yet come into force. Among
other things, it has based its assessments on competition legislation,
whereas SMP assessments should only be based on telecoms legislation, a
point that is clearly specified in the relevant EC directives.

For more information, please contact:

Johan Holmgren, Director of Public Relations.
Tel.: +46 708 33 14 00, e-mail:  

Europolitan Vodafone is a mobile operator with a license to build 3G
mobile telecoms networks. Our strength lies in our focus on developing
international services, service and quality. Europolitan Vodafone
employs some 1,500 people and the parent company Europolitan Holdings AB
is listed on the Attract 40 list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The
company's majority owner is Vodafone of the UK, with 71 per cent of
Europolitan Holdings AB. Private shareholders, investment companies and
pension funds own the remaining 29 per cent. Vodafone is represented on
5 continents and has more than 200 million mobile telecoms users. In
April 2002 Europolitan Vodafone will change brand to Vodafone.
www.europolitan.se/ and www.vodafone.com/