Vodafone building

Vodafone and Google confirm €1.2bn collaboration on AI and cloud

Deal comes as telco struggles to get UK merger with Three over the line
Trade
Image: Shutterstock via Future

11 October 2024

Vodafone and Google have announced a 10-year partnership worth €1.19 billion. This collaboration aims to enhance Vodafone’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and provide customers with advanced technology solutions.

A key aspect of the deal is the integration of Google Cloud’s generative AI into Vodafone’s TV set-top boxes. This integration will enable personalised content experiences and interactive features for viewers. In addition, Vodafone plans to use Google Cloud’s Vertex platform to create machine learning and AI application models using Google’s Gemini models. This represents a commitment to using advanced AI technologies to improve customer offerings.

In addition, the collaboration includes the launch of an advanced cloud-native security service that builds on Google Cloud’s Security Operations platform. This service provides Vodafone customers with enhanced security measures and protects their data and online activities. Furthermore, the agreement includes offering cloud storage options, giving customers flexible and scalable storage solutions.

 

advertisement



 

This agreement represents a deepening of the existing relationship between Vodafone and Google, which already work together on analytics, marketing services and the integration of the Android operating system into Vodafone’s set-top boxes. This recent agreement follows a €1.37 billion deal Vodafone struck with Microsoft earlier this year, transferring their European data centres to Azure cloud services.

Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle highlighted the potential of this partnership to provide consumers with AI-powered content and devices. She highlighted the opportunity for customers to discover new ways to learn, create, communicate and consume television through these advanced services.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, agreed, saying the expanded collaboration will bring their advanced AI products and services, including Gemini models, to a wider audience in Europe and Africa.

The announcement of this partnership comes amid challenges for Vodafone in the UK market. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently raised concerns about Vodafone’s proposed merger with rival Three.

The CMA tentatively concluded that the merger could lead to price increases for mobile customers or reduced service offerings, such as smaller data packages. The CMA also pointed to possible negative effects on vulnerable consumers who could afford higher bills or reduced service.

Vodafone and Three publicly disagreed with the CMA’s findings, claiming that the merger would ultimately benefit the UK mobile market by addressing current shortcomings.

Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle pointed to a recent EU report highlighting the importance of investment commitments in merger remedies. She argued that Vodafone’s proposed merger with Three is in line with this recommendation and focuses on network upgrades and technological advances.

Business AM

Read More:


Back to Top ↑

TechCentral.ie