Vodafone Japan Plans To Offer Wholesale Cellphone Services

TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Vodafone K.K. (9434.TO), the Japanese unit of Vodafone Group Plc. (VOD) of the U.K., said Tuesday it plans to offer wholesale cellphone services to boost its revenue, though it gave no time frame for the move.

These services will include leasing its networks to other companies who are interested in providing mobile phone services themselves.

Vodafone unveiled the plan at a press conference in Tokyo on its strategy under the local unit's new management team led by William Morrow. Morrow took over as president of the U.K. firm's Japanese unit in April from Shiro Tsuda, who became the unit's executive chairman.

Vodafone K.K. has suffered an alarming decline in its Japan market share amid fierce competition with domestic rivals. Turning around Vodafone's Japan operations is crucial for the Vodafone Group, which is the world's largest cellular carrier in terms of revenue.

-By Kanji Ishibashi, Dow Jones Newswires; 813-5255-2929; kanji.ishibashi@dowjones.com

-Edited by Hugh Lawson and Shawn Schroter

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 12th July 2005