Hutch Essar Completes BPL Buy

HONG KONG -- Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ('Hutchison Telecom'; SEHK: 2332; NYSE: HTX) today announces that Hutchison Essar Limited ('Hutchison Essar'), its joint venture in India with Essar Teleholdings Limited, has completed the acquisition of BPL Mobile Cellular Limited ('BPL Cellular').

BPL Cellular operates in three licence areas -- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With the completion of this acquisition, Hutchison Essar now operates in 16 circles including all metro and A circles. Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecom said, "We are very pleased to have completed this acquisition. We remain confident in the growth opportunities in India, and we will continue to invest to position ourselves as a major provider of mobile telecommunications services."

Hutchison Essar