Vodafone and Google have extended their existing partnership by 10 years to bring new services, devices, and TV experiences to Vodafone customers across Europe and Africa, supported by Google Cloud and Google’s Gemini models.
Both companies will jointly promote the use of universal industry standards in areas such as online safety, responsible AI development, network performance, and interoperability.
They intend to bring the power of AI to users through more AI-powered Google Pixel devices and other Android phones. They aim to offer Vodafone’s customers a range of services built using advanced cloud-based AI. This could include storage for photos, videos, and files using Google One, and Google One AI Premium with Gemini Advanced for who want Google’smost powerful AI models. They are also working to expand the availability of subscription-based YouTube services to Vodafone customers. All such services will be supported by Vodafone’s extensive fixed and mobile networks across the relevant territories.
Vodafone will develop a new cloud-native cybersecurity offering for its business customers utilizing Google Cloud’s Security Operations platform, enabling them to better protect themselves and respond in real-time to cybersecurity threats. In addition, Vodafone will leverage its in-house team of 900 cybersecurity experts, along with Google Cloud’s Security Operations platform, to further secure its operations at scale from external threats.
Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, said: “Vodafone and Google will put new AI-powered content and devices into the hands of millions more consumers. Our customers can discover new ways to learn, create, and communicate, as well as consume TV, on a scale we haven’t seen before.”
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, added: “Our expanded partnership with Vodafone will help bring our most advanced AI products and services, including our Gemini models, to more people. I’m excited to see how Vodafone’s consumers, small businesses, and governments will use generative AI and Google Cloud to transform the way they work and access information.”
Back-Office Oprations
Google and Vodafone will collaborate to build products and scale priority use cases for digital, IT, and network teams to help automate fault detection, streamline back-office operations, and more. Google will also create a generative AI training program for Vodafone employees to help them enhance their digital skills and operational efficiencies by using scaled AI applications internally and with partners.
The agreement will bring storage, security, and AI assistance to Vodafone’s customers in 15 countries, as well as to its partners in an additional 45 markets worldwide. Google will utilize Vodafone’s fixed and mobile connectivity services to improve workforce productivity.
Consumer Experiences
They have pledged to improve and expand the range of products and services available in stores and online and enabling Vodafone to offer YouTube subscription-based products and Google One subscription plans as well as a range of Pixel and other Android devices.
Vodafone TV will use Google Cloud’s advanced generative AI capabilities to provide additional content discovery features, rewards, offers, and content monetization with Google Ad Manager, delivering a better ads experience. The teams are also exploring a more deeply integrated YouTube experience across Vodafone TV devices.
Digital Transformation
Vodafone will use Vertex AI, Google Cloud’s enterprise-ready AI platform deploy, and scale machine learning models and AI applications powered by Google’s Gemini model to will help Vodafone’s operating companies i launch new products more quickly and easily.