IBM Signs Vodafone Netherlands for MobileFirst Portfolio
Vodafone Netherlands will offer IBM MobileFirst solutions to enterprise clients. BM MobileFirst will extend Vodafone Ready Business, which includes communications ...
In Focus: Vodafone
Vodafone Group International telecommunications group focused on mobile, fixed broadband, enterprise connectivity, IoT, 5G, Open RAN, and emerging direct-to-device satellite services. | |
| Overview | Vodafone Group is a UK-based telecommunications operator with major operations across Europe and Africa, including Germany, the UK through VodafoneThree, Türkiye, and Vodacom-led African markets. The company provides mobile and fixed connectivity, business communications, IoT, cloud connectivity, carrier services, and network infrastructure services. |
| Why It Matters | Vodafone remains one of Europe’s most important telecom operators and a significant testbed for network transformation, including 5G Standalone, Open RAN, IoT at scale, network automation, and satellite-to-smartphone connectivity. The VodafoneThree integration is also reshaping the UK mobile market. |
| Founded | Vodafone’s origins trace to Racal Telecom and the first Vodafone mobile call in the UK in 1985. |
| Headquarters | Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom |
| CEO / Leadership | Margherita Della Valle, Group Chief Executive. Jean-François van Boxmeer serves as Chair. |
| Core Technologies | 5G, 5G Standalone, Open RAN, fixed broadband, fiber access, mobile core, IoT connectivity, private networks, cloud connectivity, SD-WAN, security services, satellite direct-to-device connectivity. |
| Key Products / Platforms | Vodafone Business Vodafone IoT VodafoneThree Consumer Mobile Enterprise Connectivity |
| Major Milestones | Vodafone completed the Vodafone UK and Three UK merger in 2025, creating VodafoneThree. In 2026, Vodafone announced an agreement to acquire CK Hutchison’s remaining 49% stake, subject to regulatory approvals. Vodafone is also advancing European Open RAN deployments and a European direct-to-device satellite service venture with AST SpaceMobile. |
| Target Markets | Telecom Enterprise IoT 5G NTN |
| Editorial Coverage | Converge Digest coverage should track Vodafone’s mobile network modernization, VodafoneThree integration, Open RAN vendor strategy, enterprise connectivity, IoT platforms, private networks, European satellite direct-to-device initiatives, and telecom consolidation across Europe. |
| Industry Context | Vodafone is repositioning around a more focused Europe-and-Africa footprint after portfolio simplification. Its strategic relevance is tied to mobile network scale, enterprise services, fiber and fixed-mobile convergence, Open RAN deployment economics, and new coverage models using LEO satellite connectivity. |
| Profile Updated | July 2026 |
| Related Knowledge Hubs | Vodafone | Telecom | Open RAN | Space Networking & Orbital Data Centers | 5G | IoT |
Vodacom Deploys Base station in Shipping Container is SA
Vodacom is testing the use of shipping containers to provide an all-in-one solution for base stations deployed in townships in ...
Huawei and Vodafone Alliance Targets Global Enterprise Market
Huawei and Vodafone announced a new strategic alliance focusing on the enterprise market in Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. The ...
Vodafone Germany Launches VoLTE with Mavenir
Vodafone Germany has launched VoLTE using Mavenir Systems' VoLTE application solution. Vodafone Germany’s VoLTE implementation includes complex integration with the ...
Deutsche Bank Awards 5-Year Contract to Vodafone
Deutsche Bank awarded a five and a half year agreement to Vodafone to serve as its global strategic telecommunications partner. ...
Vodafone Tests 400G Transmission with Alcatel-Lucent
Vodafone Spain has successfully tested 400G optical transmission between Madrid and Zaragoza using existing optical infrastructure. The trial was conducted ...
Vodafone Leverages Elephant Talk’s SDN/NFV to Launch MVNO in Spain
Vodafone Enabler España has enabled a new mobile virtual network operator called "LOWI" to launch consumer services of its infrastructure ...
Vodafone Hires Ericsson Exec to Serve as CTO
Vodafone announced the appointment for Johan Wibergh as CTO, replacing Steve Pusey, who is retiring. Wibergh currently serves as Executive ...
Alcatel-Lucent’s TWDM-PON Carries Four 10G Wavelengths
Alcatel-Lucent introduced the industry’s first TWDM-PON (Time and Wavelength Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Networks), a new fixed, ultra-broadband access technology ...
Vodafone Builds Out Global MPLS Backbone
Vodafone will triple the number of MPLS points of presence (PoPs) available to enterprise customers across the USA, Canada and ...
Vodafone New Zealand Rolls 700 MHz LTE with Nokia
Vodafone New Zealand has selected Nokia Networks to enable the launch of its commercial 700 MHz LTE network, one of ...
Ericsson to Provide Managed Service for Vodafone Egypt
Vodafone Egypt, which has over 36 million customers, has awarded a three-year contract to Ericsson to manage its network in ...
Vodafone to Acquire ONO of Spain for US$10 Billion
Vodafone will acquire ONO, a privately-held cable operator serving approximately 1.9 million households and small businesses in Spain, for approximately ...
A private dossier for networking and telecoms