PRESS RELEASE

Mumbai, April 26, 2005: Hutch today cut roaming airtime rates by 33%, from Rs. 3 per minute to Rs. 1.99 per minute. The reduced tariffs will come into effect from May 1, 2005, and will benefit all Hutch & Orange post paid and prepaid users across the country.

Hutch's new roaming tariffs deliver significant value to cellular users and the timing of the drop is appropriate considering the forthcoming summer vacations when a large proportion of subscribers will be holidaying in places away from their home towns.

About Hutch

Hutchison Essar group of companies, with 7.79 million mobile users under the Hutch and Orange brands, is one of the most reputed telecom companies in India. Over the years, it has been named the 'Most Respected Telecom Company', the 'Best Mobile Service in the country', and the 'Most Creative and Most Effective Advertiser of the Year'. The brand Hutch, with its landmark advertising, has established itself as one of the few great brands created in the country in the last decade.

For further information, please contact:
Amrit Singh Deo / Asha Bajpai
Genesis Public Relations
Orange: 98202 11064
Tel: 022 - 5664 5220 / 5660 3027
Email: amrit.deo@orange.co.in / abajpai@genesispr.com