Monday July 19, 8:24 am Eastern Time

Company Press Release

Vodafone AirTouch Acquisition of CommNet Cellular to Expand AirTouch's
Footprint in 9 Western States


SAN FRANCISCO and ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-- (BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 1999--
Vodafone AirTouch Plc (NYSE:VOD - news) and CommNet Cellular Inc.
(Nasdaq:CELS - news) today announced that Vodafone AirTouch has agreed,
through its subsidiary AirTouch Cellular, to purchase CommNet, based in
Englewood, CO, for $764 million in cash, plus debt which is expected to be
about $600 million at the close of the transaction.  CommNet is controlled by
Blackstone Capital Partners II, a private equity fund of The Blackstone
Group, a private investment bank in New York.

The deal, which is expected to close in four to five months, will add vast
new regions to AirTouch Cellular's coverage area in the Western United
States.  CommNet offers service in most of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming and parts of Idaho, Iowa and New Mexico.  It
also owns minority interests in operations in three other states.

CommNet's share of those markets gives it access to about 3.6 million
potential customers.  It has about 360,000 proportionate customers.

The purchase fills gaps in AirTouch's coverage area which until now have
been served through costly roaming agreements.  AirTouch will now be able to
extend service to communities such as Rapid City and Sioux Falls, South
Dakota; Sioux City, Iowa; Bismarck, North Dakota; Great Falls and Billings,
Montana; and Pueblo, Colorado.

"CommNet's markets are well managed and fit ours like hand in glove," said
Chris Gent, CEO of Vodafone AirTouch Plc.  "This deal will allow customers to
enjoy the benefits of AirTouch quality over a much broader area.  It will cut
our roaming costs and offer significant marketing synergies, which will
enable us improve the value we offer customers."

Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of CommNet will receive $31
per share in cash, plus 8 percent annual interest from July 18, 1999 until
closing.

Arnold C. Pohs, Chairman and CEO of CommNet, said, "This transaction joining
CommNet with the world's largest wireless telecommunications company is a
true benefit for our shareholders, subscribers, telephone company partners,
employees and future customers.  As the definitive provider of cellular
telephony to rural America, we know that our heritage of service and quality
is now firmly secure for the future."



Mark T. Gallogly, Senior Managing Director at The Blackstone Group who is
responsible for the firm's cable, communications and media investments,
observed, "We have been privileged to partner with an outstanding team at
CommNet.  Arnold Pohs, Dan Dwyer and their team have done a tremendous job to
maximize value for all CommNet shareholders.  AirTouch is a world-class
company with the capability to grow CommNet to compete effectively on a
national basis."

The transaction is subject to customary conditions including receipt of
approval from the Federal Communications Commission.  Blackstone has agreed
to vote in favor of the transaction.  CommNet was advised by Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter, which delivered a fairness opinion, and the law firm of Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett.

AirTouch serves 9 million U.S. cellular and PCS customers on a proportionate
basis.  Its ventures operate in 25 states and 22 of the top 30 U.S. markets,
including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.  AirTouch is part of the
Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest wireless communications firm,
based in the United Kingdom.  It has mobile operations in 24 countries on
five continents, with more than 28 million proportionate cellular customers.
For more information, visit the AirTouch web site at www.airtouch.com.

The Blackstone Group is a private investment bank based in New York City.  It
was founded in 1985 by its Chairman, Peter G. Peterson, and its President and
CEO, Stephen A. Schwarzman.  Blackstone is a leader in private equity
investing, and is currently in the process of investing its Blackstone
Capital Partners III fund, which represents approximately $4 billion of
equity capital.  The Blackstone Group is also engaged in five other business
areas including Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory, Restructuring and
Reorganization Advisory, Private Equity Real Estate Investing, Private
Mezzanine Investing, and Liquid Alternative Asset Investing.


- --------------------------------------
Contact:
     Vodafone AirTouch
     Jonathan Marshall, 415/658-2209
          or
     CommNet Cellular
     Dan Dwyer, 303/694-8568
          or
     The Blackstone Group
     Maryfrances Metrick, 212/583-5837





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