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Vodafone has come first in the major UMTS network test carried out by the trade magazine "Connect". The journalists tested the performance of the four German mobile telecommunications companies' UMTS networks in a Germany-wide field test conducted over two weeks. The criteria not only covered speedy data transmission via UMTS PC card, but also network coverage and call stability - irrespective of whether telephony or data transmission were concerned. And this was the result: Vodafone was the clear winner.

Connect's conclusion was as follows: "A test victory could hardly be more clear-cut: at the moment, the competition cannot keep up with Vodafone in any of the disciplines. For those who place importance on a high level of stability, good network coverage in cities and on high download speeds, there's no avoiding the Vodafone network."

A satisfied Jrgen von Kuczkowski, Chairman of the Board of Management of Vodafone D2 GmbH, comments: "We are very pleased with the result. It shows that our efforts regarding network expansion and optimisation have been worthwhile and that we are on the right track. We are completely convinced of the success of UMTS. Those who talk about UMTS in Germany cannot avoid mentioning Vodafone."

As early as the first major UMTS test carried out by Connect in March, the Stuttgart-based trade journalists certified that the expansion of Vodafone's UMTS network was "excellent". At the beginning of 2004, Vodafone became the first company in Germany to launch the third mobile telecommunications generation with the UMTS datacard. Besides speedy data communication, Vodafone is now also offering video telephony via UMTS mobiles. Vodafone UMTS is already available in over 400 towns and cities across Germany.