Vodafone and Microsoft have announced a partnership that involves a US$1.5 billion investment over the next ten years. The investment aims to promote the development of innovative digital and financial services for both businesses and consumers.
As part of the partnership, Vodafone will use OpenAI technology on Microsoft’s Azure platform to enhance its new IoT business by offering scalable solutions. The partnership is also expected to help Vodafone expand the reach of M-Pesa, a mobile phone-based money transfer service, by introducing it as a cloud-native application.
In return, Microsoft will invest in Vodafone’s managed IoT connectivity platform, which is set to become a separate business by April 2024.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, expressed his confidence in the potential of AI to transform every industry and organisation in the world.
He is optimistic that this partnership will unlock new opportunities for both companies to improve their products and services. The collaboration will also contribute to Vodafone’s cloud transition and enhance the customer experience of millions of people and businesses across Africa and Europe.
