08 Dec 2021

Vodafone extends 5G edge partnership with Microsoft

Vodafone Business has agreed a five-year partnership with Microsoft to jointly supply private 5G, edge computing and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Vodafone will sell the Microsoft suite of compute and storage functions, Azure-based IoT applications alongside the UK telecoms giant’s own enterprise mobility, machine connectivity and IoT telemetry services.

In a move which Vodafone claimed will make it a “platform company” and “SME champion” the two companies will collaborate with SMEs across Europe and Africa to support the development of new technologies in 5G-powered multi-access edge computing (MEC) and the IoT.

Microsoft’s cloud-based Azure functions and applications, including Microsoft 365 and Teams, will be distributed into Vodafone’s network edge in tandem with 5G network operations. The collaboration will also see the duo provide on-site private LTE and 5G networks for SMEs, with core networking managed either on site or in the MEC edge in conjunction with either publicly-licensed or privately-held spectrum.

Mark Allinson, strategy and development director at Vodafone Business, said: “For businesses to become truly digital, they need networks, cloud and security to work in harmony.