Press Release | 17 Dec 2019

Ipswich welcomes Vodafone’s 200th franchise store in time for Christmas

Vodafone has opened its 200th franchise store in Tavern Street, Ipswich, in time for the festive season.

The new milestone reflects Vodafone’s ongoing investment in providing shoppers with a blend of in-person support through its traditional retail outlets and access to the latest online digital services such as the My Vodafone app.

Established in 2017, Vodafone’s franchise programme offers local entrepreneurs the chance to be their own boss of up to three Vodafone-branded stores. They receive a fully fitted store offering the latest smartphones, connected devices for the home and the UK’s fastest growing home broadband service – all backed by Vodafone’s new Unlimited plans and high-speed mobile and fixed fibre network.

Through this successful programme, Vodafone is helping local entrepreneurs and communities stay connected through improved digital connectivity.

Suffolk-born local businessperson Matthew Arthur took charge of the Ipswich store this week. With more than six years’ of experience working in the region’s telecoms industry, Matthew and his team of eight employees are well qualified to provide customers with advice on the latest technology, gadgets and digital entertainment services.

Handing over the keys to our 200th franchise store in Ipswich

Matthew Arthur commented: “Ipswich is undergoing a major re-development, and we want to be on hand to help local businesses and residents with all their connectivity requirements as the town looks to prosper. We see our store as an important hub for the local community to meet and provide advice face-to-face.”

Vodafone UK Consumer Director Max Taylor said: “We are delighted that Matthew and the team have taken ownership of our two hundredth franchise store. Through this successful programme and the continued rollout of our fast network to more areas, we are helping local entrepreneurs and communities stay connected through improved digital connectivity.”

Carol singers and Santa Claus greeted people at the store’s official opening. Other guests included representatives from Suffolk Youth People’s Health Project, a local charity that provides advice, guidance and practical support to young people. The employees of the Vodafone Ipswich store will help the charity through fund raising events and building local awareness.

Get more information about Vodafone’s partner programme.

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.

Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.

For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.

Vodafone UK Media Relations

Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 693 693

Email: ukmediarelations@vodafone.com

Twitter: @VodafoneUKNews

Website: https://vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/

Vodafone Limited

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN

Registered in England No: 1471587