Speaking at the presentation of the company’s financial results the CEO, Sir Christopher Gent, claimed that 3G may not be widely accessible until mid-2003.

However, according to the Financial Times, Vodafone still plans to launch its 3G service in the second half of 2002.

We will trial services from June to September, with a public launch in October, but there may not be meaningful supplies of handsets in the high street until the middle of the following year, Sir Christopher said.