Vodafone, Google Cloud Team Up: First Global Integrated Data Platform

Vodafone UK and Google Cloud have teamed up to build an integrated data platform to allow the telco to host its SAP environments and all data analytics and business intelligence.

According to both companies, the six-year strategic partnership will see the creation of new digital products and services to be rollout to Vodafone’s customers worldwide simultaneously with the using reliable and secure data analytics, insights, and learnings.

The jointly built integrated data platform – called Nucleus – will allow Vodafone to have added capability of processing large amounts of data globally from numerous systems into the cloud; the telco will also be able to generate more detailed insights and data-driven analysis across the organization and with its partners, and thereby provide a more enriched experience to Vodafone customers worldwide.

“Vodafone is building a powerful foundation for a digital future,” said Johan Wibergh, Chief Technology Officer for Vodafone. “We have vast amounts of data which, when securely processed and made available across our footprint using the collective power of Vodafone and Google Cloud’s engineering expertise, will transform our services, to our customers and governments, and the societies where they live and serve.”

Vodafone has reportedly already identified over 700 use-cases for the delivery of new products and services for better speed, reduce costs, support fact-based decision making and simplifying and centralizing Vodafone’s operations across all their markets.

They are being built in-house by Vodafone and Google Cloud’s collaborating teams of over 1000 specialists from both companies in the UK, Spain, and U.S.

The Nucleus, which houses the new system, Dynamo, are both industry firsts, and are the foundations behind Vodafone’s ambitions. Reportedly, they are capable of housing and processing over 50 terabytes of data per day.

According to both companies, this will enable new forms of personalized products and services to be rolled out, and while providing various benefits, such as:

• Enhancing Vodafone’s mobile, fixed, and TV content and connectivity services through the instantaneous availability of highly personalized rewards, content, and applications.
• Increasing the number of smart network services in its Google Cloud footprint from eight markets to the entire Vodafone footprint.
• Empowering data scientists to collaborate on key environmental and health issues in 11 countries using automated machine learning tools.
• Providing a complete digital replica of many of Vodafone’s internal support functions using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics.

This partnership and the subsequent technologies that are being developed are a microcosm to the general trajectory of the world’s big tech and telecoms companies joining forces to integrate their expertise for a smarter, faster, and more connected and personalized digital world.