How Google & Vodafone aim to Unlock Billion-Dollar 5G Growth
Both Google and Vodafone continue their long-term alliance with a billion-dollar deal that includes cloud, cybersecurity and device strengthening across Europe and Africa.
The extended partnership is designed to offer new generative AI (Gen AI) powered devices via Google’s Gemini AI models to millions of Vodafone customers across these regions. Vodafone states it will expand access to Google’s AI-powered Pixel devices with its fast 5G network in Europe, in addition to continually promoting the Android ecosystem.
Vodafone also aims to develop a new cloud-native security service for its business customers by leveraging Google Cloud’s Security Operations platform.
The extended agreement will bring storage, security and AI assistance to Vodafone's customers in 15 countries, in addition to its partners in an additional 45 markets worldwide. Google will use the telco’s fixed and mobile connectivity services to improve the productivity of its workforce.
Prioritising the telco customer
One of the key priorities of the Vodafone and Google partnership is to help consumers take advantage of the latest hardware and digital technologies. This includes AI and cloud-based applications, which are currently under high demand around the world.
Both companies are eager to work together to improve and expand the range of products and services available in stores and online to offer an improved customer experience, coupled with the benefit of AI.
- Expansion of Google's AI-powered Pixel devices on Vodafone's 5G network
- Development of new cloud-native cybersecurity service for Vodafone business customers
- Joint promotion of industry standards in online safety, responsible AI development, network performance and interoperability
Likewise, they are working towards enabling Vodafone to offer YouTube subscription-based products and Google One subscription plans, such as storage plans and AI Premium plans to consumers. Both Vodafone and Google will also work together to enhance Vodafone TV by using Google Cloud’s Gen AI capabilities to provide additional content discovery features, rewards and offers, as well as content monetisation with Google Ad Manager to deliver a better ads experience.
The teams are also exploring a more deeply-integrated YouTube experience across Vodafone TV devices. All of these offerings will be supported by Vodafone's extensive fixed and mobile networks in the relevant locations.
"Together, Vodafone and Google will put new AI-powered content and devices into the hands of millions of more consumers. Using these services, our customers can discover new ways to learn, create and communicate, as well as consume TV, on a scale we haven't seen before."
Enhancing the AI experience
Vodafone’s intention is to make it easier for consumers to experience AI through a wider range of AI-powered Google Pixel devices and other Android phones, alongside its fast 5G pan-European network. The organisation also intends to assist customers in learning more about AI features with improved online guides, dedicated in-store experiences and newly trained staff.
The telco already has a strong history with Google Cloud, having previously worked together to create a data repository (or data lake) that houses Vodafone’s data and its existing AI and data analytics services on Google Cloud.
Likewise, they have worked together to ensure maximum security for customers. With the new partnership expansion, Vodafone will use Vertex AI, Google Cloud’s business-ready AI platform. The company will use the AI to build, deploy and scale machine learning models and AI applications that are powered by Google Gemini.
This aims to help increase the speed and ease with which Vodafone's operating companies in multiple countries can innovate and launch new products.
Both companies also intend to jointly promote the use of universal industry standards in areas such as online safety, responsible AI development, network performance and interoperability to drive economies of scale and improve public services at scale.
"Our expanded partnership with Vodafone will help bring our most advanced AI products and services, including our Gemini models, to more people across Europe and Africa," says Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.
"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."
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