Vodafone: In Strategic Partnership With Conexus Mobile Alliance

Vodafone Group PLC (VOD.LN), the world's largest mobile operator by revenue, is partnering with Conexus Mobile Alliance, a group of Asian mobile operators that includes Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437.TO), which will allow some members of the alliance to use Vodafone's brand and access its devices and services in their respective markets.

U.K.-based Vodafone's partnership with Conexus also covers collaboration on mobile services in areas such as roaming services, a joint statement from Vodafone and Conexus said.

Under the agreement, Vodafone will form partnerships with Taiwan's Far EasTone Telecommunications Co. (4904.TW), Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. (0215.HK), NTT DoCoMo, the Philippines' Smart Communications Inc., Singapore's Starhub Ltd. (CC3.SG), and Thailand's TrueMove.

The partnership "significantly expands Vodafone's presence in Asia and provides Conexus with greater access to Vodafone's global footprint," said the statement.

The move comes after Singapore's M1 Ltd. (B2F.SG) and Hong Kong's SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. (0315.HK), members of rival alliance Asia Mobility Initiative, said Monday they won't renew their respective partnerships with Vodafone when they expire this year.

The statement said Vodafone and Conexus also intend to expand the partnership to include other alliance members, such as South Korea's KT Corp.

Conexus comprises NTT DoCoMo, KT Corp., Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd., India's Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (500108.BY), Indonesia's Indosat (ISAT.JK), Smart Communications Inc., Starhub Ltd., Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., TrueMove, and Vietnam's VinaPhone.

The alliance has a combined customer base of about 321 million mobile subscribers.

-By Chun Han Wong, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]