Vodafone puts bricks under 3G roll-out

Vodafone could delay the full roll-out of its 3G network until as late as 2003 because of a lack of handsets.

Shares in Vodafone fell 5.2 per cent today as it emerged it would only build 750 3G base stations by the end of this year, instead of the planned 1,200.

Vodafone's Chris Gent told the Wall Street Journal that, despite assurances from handset manufacturers, he did not believe enough 3G phones will be available by the second half of next year - the time originally slated for the launch of the high-speed service.

The delay means Vodafone will spend less than the £5bn previously anticipated this year on rolling out the new networks.