British VODAFONE is to purchase 8.48% of the Spanish group ALBA in AIRTEL, the second largest mobile telephony company in Spain, for the sum of around £1.5 billion. The acquisition brings to 30.18% the share held by the British group in AIRTEL. VODAFONE has also acquired an option on 30.46% held by BSCH and on the 8.43% held by ACCIONA and TORREAL in AIRTEL.