Press Release | 24 Nov 2020

Vodafone UK opens up new markets for IoT growth to extend lead at the top

  • Vodafone UK is launching a new range of services that will make it easier for UK businesses to adopt IoT (Internet of Things) technology to track, monitor and manage assets, giving them vital data, insight and control
  • The new services are part of the enhanced offering that the latest addition to the Vodafone Group, IoT.nxt, brings to the company’s portfolio
  • The complete offering delivers devices and sensors, a single data management platform, and ongoing professional services to businesses of any size
  • Key markets for IoT include utilities, logistics, public transport, healthcare, manufacturing, and building management, as Vodafone releases a report on the benefits of the ‘Digital Building’ approach

Vodafone UK is launching a new range of IoT services that will remove barriers to IoT adoption for UK businesses. By partnering with IoT.nxt, part of the Vodafone Group, Vodafone will offer customers every part of an IoT solution, with a single data management platform, and the capability to integrate old and new devices in one system.

As part of the new range of services, Vodafone will provide IoT sensors and devices, create a data management platform, and offer ongoing professional services. This complete offering will ensure IoT is accessible to all businesses, including those that do not have specialist capabilities in-house.

IoT, or the ‘Internet of Things’, is the capability to track, monitor and manage any assets, giving businesses vital data, insight and control. Markets that can most quickly benefit from IoT adoption include utilities, logistics, public transport, healthcare, manufacturing, and building management.

an illustrative image of an IoT.nxt sensor from Vodafone UK
An IoT.nxt sensor from Vodafone UK.

Vodafone today released a report on the benefits of ‘Digital Buildings’ which found that investment in IoT in public sector buildings could reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy usage and save taxpayers up to £380 million annually. The report, which calls on the UK Government to explore digital buildings technology, estimates new technology could reduce carbon emissions by up to 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 a year and reduce overall energy usage in buildings by 15%.

As part of Vodafone’s recent IoT Spotlight research, 87% of UK early adopters said they have already seen a return-on-investment for IoT, while 76% suggested they are able to do things they couldn’t do before. IoT is helping businesses adapt to the digital economy, but complexity has been a major barrier to adoption.

Anne Sheehan, Business Director, Vodafone UK said: “We’re making it easy for any business to adopt IoT. We’re taking away complexity, and making it simple to deploy, simple to manage, and simple to see the return on investment. With our colleagues at IoT.nxt we can be unique in the UK market – we’ll grow our leadership position from here, and deliver customers a digital capability that will prove invaluable in meeting the pressures of business today.”

In 2019, Vodacom – part of the Vodafone Group – acquired a 51% share in South Africa-based IoT.nxt. The addition of IoT.nxt to the Vodafone Group will ensure that Vodafone UK grows its leadership in the IoT space, by opening up new markets through the ease of deployment, the simplicity and flexibility of operation, and the capability to customise to any application. IoT.nxt lets businesses consolidate multiple processes on to one simple platform, and integrate old and new devices with a single system.

Nico Steyn, CEO of IoT.nxt said, “It’s great to be part of the Vodafone Group. After a successful collaboration with Vodacom in South Africa, we are thrilled to power the new era of Vodafone UK’s IoT strategy. IoT is perceived by many businesses to be complex and bespoke, but it doesn’t have to be. We hope to change that perception with a platform which can be adapted to any business, and type of connection, and any use case.”

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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

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Vodafone Limited

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