Dublin, December 19, 2002 - Vodafone, Ireland's leading mobile operator, has today announced that it is investing in an MPLS-based (Multi Protocol Label Switching) IP core network based on technology from Cisco Systems. The investment is designed to help enhance and improve GPRS (General Packet Radio System) capabilities on the Vodafone network in Ireland and to prepare the ground for the launch of 3G next year. Cisco Systems was awarded the contract for the provision of technology solutions to help enable the deployment of this core network following a competitive tendering process.

The services that will be enhanced following this investment include MMS (Multi Media Messaging Services), dial-in access to corporate LAN, ISP access over GPRS and WAP over GPRS. MMS will initially run on GPRS but will also run on the new UMTS (3G) network when customers will have the ability to carry out media streaming and video telephony via Vodafone Ireland's mobile network

Speaking at the announcement, Liam Butler, Director of Networks, Vodafone Ireland said: "Providing multimedia based services across our core network and out to mobile devices means that more than ever we need to be able to streamline and prioritise traffic. The robust nature of the MPLS implementation on Cisco's routing platforms was a major factor in our choice of Cisco as a provider and I am very confident that they will successfully meet our needs.

"MPLS adoption is growing steadily, both amongst fixed and mobile network operators", said Paul Gainham, Routing and Broadband Access product manager, Cisco Systems, EMEA. "We're very encouraged to see that MPLS core networks using Cisco technology are being deployed not just in Ireland but by many parts of the Vodafone Group throughout Europe."

The Cisco MPLS-based IP core network is a mature technology for enhanced IP services, offering scalable IP-VPNs, Class of Service (CoS), service differentiation and Quality of Service support features to help enable the deployment of new services. This new core network will support service offerings to consumer, and corporate customers within the Irish market.

Vodafone will deploy the Cisco 7600 Series Router in the network, with Cisco 2600 Routers, as well as the Catalyst® 6500 Series, and Catalyst4000 Series Switches.

About Vodafone Ireland

Vodafone is Ireland's leading mobile phone operator with a base of over 1.7 million customers and a total of 1,500 employees. Vodafone holds 58% of the market share in Ireland. On May 11, 2001 the Irish company officially became a subsidiary of the Vodafone Group plc, the largest mobile telecommunications company in the world. The Vodafone Group has interests in mobile networks in 27 countries across five continents and has over 100 million customers worldwide.