View source for Vodafone

{{Short description|British multinational telecommunications company}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vodafone Group Public Limited Company
| logo = Vodafone 2017 logo.svg
| logo_upright = 1.2
| image = Newbury, New Vodafone Headquarters - geograph.org.uk - 5590.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| image_caption = Vodafone [[Company headquarters|headquarters]] in [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]]
| former_name = {{Ubl
| Racal Strategic Radio Limited (1984–1985)<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/>
| Racal Telecommunications Group Limited (1985–1988)<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/>
| Racal Telecom Limited (1988–1989)<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/>
| Racal Telecom Public Limited Company (1989–1991)<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/>
| Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (1991–1999)<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/>
| Vodafone AirTouch Public Limited Company (1999–2000)<ref name="CompaniesHouse"/>
}}
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl
|{{lse|VOD}}
|{{NASDAQ|VOD}}
|[[FTSE 100 Index|FTSE 100 Component]]
}}
| fate = 
| predecessors = 
| successor = 
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1984|07|17|df=y}}<ref name="CompaniesHouse" />
| founders = {{ubl
|[[Ernest Harrison]]
|[[Gerry Whent]]
}}
| defunct = 
| location = [[Newbury, Berkshire]], England, UK<ref name="CompaniesHouse" />
| locations = <!-- Number of physical locations -->
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list
|[[Jean-François van Boxmeer]] ([[chairman]])
|[[Margherita Della Valle]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
}}
| ISIN = {{ubl|{{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|GB00BH4HKS39}}|{{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|US92857W3088}}}}
| industry = [[Telecommunications industry|Telecommunications]]
| products = {{Unbulleted list
|[[Fixed telephony]]
|[[Mobile telephony]]
|[[Broadband]]
|[[Digital television]]|
[[Internet television]]
|[[IPTV]]
|[[Internet of things|IoT]]
}}
| revenue = {{Increase}} [[Euro|€]]37.448 billion (2025)<ref name="results">{{Cite web |title=FY Results 2025 |url=https://investors.vodafone.com/~/media/Files/V/Vodafone-IR/documents/performance/financial-results/2025/vodafone-fy25-results-announcement.pdf |access-date=23 May 2025|publisher=Vodafone Group Plc}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{Decrease}} -€411 million (2025)<ref name=results/>
| net_income = {{Decrease}} -€3.746 billion (2025)<ref name=results/>
| assets = {{Decrease}} €128.521 billion (2025)<ref name=results/>
| equity = {{Decrease}} €53.916 billion (2025)<ref name=results/>
| num_employees = 93,000 (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vodafone.com/about-vodafone/who-we-are|title=Who we are|publisher=Vodafone|access-date=9 February 2025}}</ref>
| parent = 
| divisions = 
| subsid = {{Collapsible list|
* [[Vodafone Europe]]
** [[Vodafone Albania]] 
**[[Vodafone Czech Republic]]
** [[Vodafone Germany]]
** [[Vodafone Greece]] 
** [[Vodafone Ireland]]
** [[Vodafone Portugal]]
** [[Vodafone Romania]]
** [[VodafoneZiggo]] (50%)
** [[VodafoneThree]] (51%)
* [[Vodafone Foundation]]
* [[Vodafone Idea|Vodafone Idea India (VI)]] (16.1%)
* [[Vodafone Turkey]]
* [[Vodacom]] (65.1%)
** [[Vodafone Egypt]] (55%)
** [[Safaricom]] (40%<ref>5% owned by Vodafone</ref>)
** [[Vodacom Tanzania]] 
* [[Vantage Towers]] (50%)
** [[Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane|INWIT]] (37.5%)
* [[KKTC Telsim]]
* [[TPG Telecom]] (25.1%)
}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simplified-Vodafone-Group-holding-structure-31-March-2022.pdf |url=https://investors.vodafone.com/sites/vodafone-ir/files/result_document/Simplified-Vodafone-Group-holding-structure-31-March-2022.pdf |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=investors.vodafone.com 
|language=en }}</ref>
| website = {{url|https://vodafone.com}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Vodafone Group Public Limited Company'''<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=1984-07-17 |title=Vodafone Group Public Limited Company overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01833679 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Companies House]] |language=en}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|əʊ|d|ə|f|əʊ|n}}) is a British [[Multinational company|multinational]] [[telecommunications company]]. Its [[registered office]] and global headquarters are in [[Newbury, Berkshire]], England.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 June 2009 |title=Vodafone moves world HQ to London |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/8116198.stm |access-date=10 January 2011}}</ref> It predominantly operates services in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania.

{{As of|January 2025}}, Vodafone owns and operates networks in 15 countries, with partner networks in 46 further countries.<ref name="where">{{Cite web |title=Where we operate|url=https://www.vodafone.com/about/where-we-operate |website=Vodafone |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>

Vodafone has a primary listing on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 100 Index]]. The company has a secondary listing on the [[NASDAQ]] as [[American depositary receipt]]s (ADRs).

==Name==
The name Vodafone comes from '''''vo'''ice '''da'''ta '''fone''''' (the latter a [[sensational spelling]] of "[[telephone|phone]]"), chosen by the company to "reflect the provision of voice and data services over mobile phones".<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK – About Us – History – 1982 |url=http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template09&pageID=PAV_0015&tabIndex=3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720035452/http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template09&pageID=PAV_0015&tabIndex=3 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |publisher=Vodafone Group}}</ref>

==History==

===Racal Telecom: 1980 to 1991===
In 1980, [[Ernest Harrison]], then chairman of [[Racal Electronics|Racal Electronics Plc]] – the UK's largest manufacturer of military radios – negotiated a deal with [[Arnold Weinstock|Lord Weinstock]] of the UK [[General Electric Company]] (GEC), which gave Racal access to some of GEC's battlefield radio technology. Harrison  directed the head of Racal's military radio division, [[Gerry Whent]], to explore the use of that technology for civilian purposes. Whent visited a mobile radio factory run by the US company [[General Electric]] (unrelated to UK GEC) in [[Virginia]], that same year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Richard |date=19 February 2009 |title=Obituary: Sir Ernest Harrison |url=http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2009/02/19/45500/obituary-sir-ernest-harrison.htm |access-date=29 June 2010 |publisher=electronicsweekly.com}}</ref> In 1981, the Racal Strategic Radio Ltd subsidiary was established.<ref name="VOD-G-H-01">{{Cite web |title=Origin of Vodafone |url=http://www.theoriginof.com/vodafone.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106161734/http://www.theoriginof.com/vodafone.html |archive-date=6 January 2016 |access-date=13 July 2012 |publisher=theoriginof.com}}</ref><ref name="VOD-G-H-02">{{Cite web |title=History of Racal electronics plc |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/racal-electronics-plc-history/ |access-date=13 July 2012 |publisher=fundinguniverse.com}}</ref><ref name="VOD-G-H-03">{{Cite web |title=History of Vodafone |url=http://www.celtnet.org.uk/telecos/vodafone.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219144128/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/telecos/vodafone.php |url-status=usurped |archive-date=19 December 2008 |access-date=13 July 2012 |publisher=celtnet.org.uk}}</ref>

[[Jan Stenbeck]], head of a growing Swedish conglomerate, set up an American company, [[Millicom|Millicom Inc]], and approached Gerry Whent in July 1982 about bidding jointly for the UK's second cellular radio licence. The two struck a deal giving Racal 60% of the new company, Racal-Millicom Ltd, and Millicom 40%. Due to concerns of the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] about foreign ownership, the terms were revised, and in December 1982 the Racal-Millicom partnership was awarded the second UK mobile phone network licence.<ref name=":8">Hultens, Staffan and Molleryd, Bengt (28 June 2000), "Entrepreneurs, Innovations and Market Processes in the Evolution of the Swedish Mobile Telecommunications Industry". Retrieved 9 September 2013</ref> Final ownership of Racal-Millicom Ltd was 80% Racal, with Millicom holding 15% plus royalties, and the venture firm Hambros Technology Trust holding 5%. According to the UK [[Secretary of State for Business and Trade]], "the bid submitted by Racal-Millicom Ltd … provided the best prospect for early national coverage by cellular radio."<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 1982 |title=Cellular Telephone System, Written Answers by Mr. Butcher to House of Commons (Vol 34 cc211-3W) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1982/dec/16/cellular-telephone-system |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=10 September 2013}}</ref>

Vodafone was launched on 1 January 1985 under the new name of Racal-Vodafone (Holdings) Ltd,<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1984 |title=Racal Calls up Vodafone |journal=Electronics and Power |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=268 |doi=10.1049/ep.1984.0137}}</ref> with its first office based in the Courtyard in [[Newbury, Berkshire]], and<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 February 2000 |title=The rapid rise of Vodafone |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/business/527754.stm |access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> shortly thereafter Racal Strategic Radio was renamed Racal Telecommunications Group Limited.<ref name="sec">{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Group Public Ltd Co |url=http://www.secinfo.com/d139r2.21Pc.b.htm |access-date=2 April 2007 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175748/http://www.secinfo.com/d139r2.21Pc.b.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first non-Vodafone employee to make a UK mobile phone call was comedian [[Ernie Wise]], from [[St Katharine Docks]], London on 1 January 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://londonist.com/2014/12/how-ernie-wise-almost-made-the-uks-first-mobile-phone-call|title=How Ernie Wise (Almost) Made the UK's First Mobile Phone Call |date=29 December 2014 }}</ref> On 29 December 1986, Racal Electronics issued shares to the minority shareholders of Vodafone worth £110&nbsp;million, and Vodafone became a fully owned brand of Racal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eadie |first=Alison |date=30 December 1986 |title=Racal pays £110&nbsp;million to own Vodafone |work=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers}}</ref>

On 26 October 1988, Racal Telecom, majority held by Racal Electronics, went public on the [[London Stock Exchange]] with 20% of its stock floated. The successful flotation led to a situation where Racal's stake in Racal Telecom Plc was valued more than the whole of Racal Electronics<!---(estimated at £1.7&nbsp;billion)--->.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 October 1988 |title=Shares in Racal Telecom |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian Newspapers}}</ref><ref name="VOD-G-H-04">{{Cite web |title=Racal's Key Milestones |url=http://salbu.co.za/vodafone/Racal_KeyMilestones.html |access-date=13 July 2012 |publisher=salbu.co.za}}</ref>

===Vodafone Group: 1991 to 1999===
Due to stock market pressure, to realise full value for shareholders, on 16 September 1991, Racal Telecom was demerged from Racal Electronics as Vodafone Group Plc, with Gerry Whent as its CEO.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Deborah |date=16 September 1991 |title=Vodafone's solo debut could boost share price |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian Newspapers}}</ref>

In July 1996, Vodafone acquired the two-thirds of Talkland it did not already own for £30.6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cane |first=Alan |date=10 July 1996 |title=Companies and Finance: UK: Vodafone acquires Talkland in Pounds 60m deal |page=22 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> On 19 November 1996, in a defensive move, Vodafone purchased [[Charles Wigoder|Peoples Phone]], a 181-store chain whose customers were overwhelmingly using Vodafone's network, for £77 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reguly |first=Eric |date=20 November 1996 |title=Vodafone pockets Peoples Phone |work=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers}}</ref> In a similar move the company acquired the 80% that it did not already own of Astec Communications, a service provider with 21 stores.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 February 1997 |title=News Digest: Vodafone snaps up Astec |page=55 |work=Investors Chronicle}}</ref>

In January 1997, Whent retired and [[Chris Gent]] took over as CEO.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/may/27/mobilephones.vodafonegroup1|title=Sir Christopher Gent|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 May 2003|access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref> In the same year, Vodafone introduced its ''Speechmark'' logo, composed of a [[quotation mark]] in a circle, with the Os in the Vodafone logotype representing opening and closing quotation marks and suggesting conversation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone logo |url=https://www.famouslogos.us/vodafone-logo/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Famous logos}}</ref>

=== Vodafone AirTouch: 1999 to 2000 ===
On 29 June 1999, Vodafone completed its purchase of American service provider [[AirTouch]] and changed its name to Vodafone AirTouch Plc. The merged company commenced trading on 30 June 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hasell |first=Nick |date=30 June 1999 |title=Scramble for Vodafone as blue chips retreat |work=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers}}</ref> The acquisition gave Vodafone a 35% share of [[Mannesmann]], owner of the largest German mobile network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 1999 |title=Vodafone AirTouch Considers Making a Bid for Mannesmann |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB942272098114329805 |access-date=14 April 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> To gain antitrust approval for the merger, Vodafone sold its 17.2% stake in Mannesmann's German competitor, [[E-Plus]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krause |first=Reinhardt |date=8 June 1999 |title=Vodafone's Quest Begins With AirTouch Alliance |work=Investor's Business Daily |url=http://investors.com/IBDArchives/ArtShow.asp?atn=324329775205550&sy=&kw=&ps=440&ac=WBM |access-date=4 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927031357/http://investors.com/IBDArchives/ArtShow.asp?atn=324329775205550&sy=&kw=&ps=440&ac=WBM <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

On 21 September 1999, Vodafone agreed to merge its US wireless assets with those of [[Verizon Communications|Bell Atlantic Corp]] to form [[Verizon (mobile network)|Verizon]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 September 1999 |title=Making airwaves |work=Financial Times}}</ref> The merger was completed on 4 April 2000, just a few months prior to [[Verizon Communications|Bell Atlantic's]] merger with [[GTE]] to form [[Verizon Communications]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2000 |title=Bell Atlantic and GTE Chairmen Praise FCC Merger Approval |url=http://newscenter2.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2000/page-29759036.html |access-date=10 January 2014 |publisher=Verizon |archive-date=10 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110085454/http://newscenter2.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2000/page-29759036.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November 1999, Vodafone made an unsolicited bid for Mannesmann, which was rejected. Vodafone's interest in Mannesmann had been increased by the latter's purchase of [[Orange UK|Orange]], the UK mobile operator.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 November 1999 |title=Mannesmann rejects Vodafone bid |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/519813.stm |access-date=6 April 2007}}</ref> Gent would later say Mannesmann's move into the UK broke a "gentleman's agreement" not to compete in each other's home territory.<ref name="mann merger">{{Cite news |date=3 February 2000 |title=Vodafone seals Mannesmann merger |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/630166.stm |access-date=6 April 2007}}</ref> The hostile takeover provoked strong protests in Germany, and a "titanic struggle" which saw Mannesmann resist Vodafone's efforts. However, on 3 February 2000, the Mannesmann board agreed to an increased offer of £112&nbsp;billion, then the largest corporate merger ever.<ref name="mann merger" /> The [[European Union|EU]] approved the merger in April 2000 after Vodafone agreed to divest the 'Orange' brand, which was acquired in May 2000 by [[Orange S.A.|France Télécom]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2000 |title=Vodafone seals Mannesmann merger |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/630293.stm |access-date=26 December 2008}}</ref>

===Vodafone Group: 2000 to present===
[[File:A Bucuresti street scene -i.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The headquarters of [[Vodafone Romania]] in Bucharest]]
[[File:Vodafone offices (Av. América 115, Madrid) 07.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Vodafone office in [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]]]
[[File:Barcelona - Sede de Vodafone Catalunya 2.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Vodafone office in [[Barcelona]], [[Spain]]]]

On 28 July 2000, the Company reverted to its former name, Vodafone Group Plc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2013 |title=Timeline to Vodafone's $130 Billion Verizon Deal |url=http://www.cellular-news.com/story/61810.php |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Cellular News}}</ref>

On 17 December 2001, Vodafone introduced the concept of "partner networks", by signing [[TDC A/S|TDC]] Mobil of Denmark. The new concept involved the introduction of Vodafone international services to the local market, without the need of investment by Vodafone, extending the Vodafone brand and services into markets where it did not have stakes in local operators. Vodafone services would be marketed under the dual-brand scheme, where the Vodafone brand is added at the end of the local brand (i.e., TDC Mobil-Vodafone etc.).<ref>[http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=396301 TDC forms roaming partnership with Vodafone] Reuters, 17 December 2001</ref>

Vodafone sponsored the [[Premier League]] team [[Manchester United F.C.]] from 2000 until the 2005–06 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4463534.stm|title=Vodafone ends Man Utd shirt deal|date=23 November 2005|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref> In 2007, Vodafone entered into a title sponsorship deal with the [[McLaren]] Formula One team (previously Vodafone sponsored [[Scuderia Ferrari]] in 2002 until 2006), which traded as "Vodafone McLaren Mercedes" until the sponsorship ended at the end of the 2013 season.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4527512.stm McLaren seal deal with Vodafone] BBC, 14 December 2005</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=14 March 2013 |title=McLaren to lose Vodafone title sponsorship |url=http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/14/mclaren-lose-vodafone-title-sponsorship/ |access-date=12 January 2014 |publisher=F1 Fanatic}}</ref>

On 1 December 2011, it acquired the [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]-based Bluefish Communications Ltd, an [[Information and communications technology|ICT]] consultancy company.<ref name="VGE-H-12">{{Cite news |date=1 December 2011 |title=Vodafone acquires Bluefish Communications |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/article/2011-12-01/a9OZyP9V5si0.html |access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref> The acquired operations formed the nucleus of a new Unified Communications and Collaboration practice within its subsidiary [[Vodafone Global Enterprise]],<ref name=VGE-H-12/> which was to focus on implementing strategies in [[cloud computing]], and strengthen its [[professional services]] offering.<ref name=VGE-H-12/>

In April 2012, Vodafone announced an agreement to acquire [[Cable & Wireless Worldwide]] (CWW) for £1.04 billion.<ref name="VGE-H-09">{{Cite news |last1=Browning |first1=Jonathan |last2=Campbell |first2=Matthew |date=23 April 2012 |title=Vodafone Agrees to Buy Cable & Wireless for $1.7 Billion |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-23/vodafone-agrees-to-buy-cable-wireless-for-1-7-billion.html |access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref> The acquisition gave Vodafone access to CWW's [[Fiber-optic communication|fibre network]] for businesses, enabling it to offer [[unified communications]] to enterprises. On 18 June 2012, Cable & Wireless shareholders voted in favour of the Vodafone offer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone One Step Closer To Completing Deal After CWW Shareholder Approval |url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/vodafone-one-step-closer-to-completing-deal-after-cww-shareholder-approval-20120618-01470 |access-date=11 December 2012 |publisher=Nasdaq.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Browning |first=Jonathan |date=18 June 2012 |title=Vodafone Gets Approval for C&W Bid as Orbis Drops Opposition |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-18/cable-wireless-largest-owner-orbis-to-vote-for-vodafone-bid.html |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>

On 2 September 2013, Vodafone announced it would be selling its 45% stake in [[Verizon (mobile network)|Verizon Wireless]] to [[Verizon Communications]] for $US130 billion.<ref name="bbc-verizon">{{Cite news |last=Peston |first=Robert |date=2 September 2013 |title=Vodafone sells Verizon stake for $130bn |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23933955 |access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref> With the proceeds from the deal, it announced a £19 billion Project Spring initiative to improve network quality in Europe and emerging markets, such as India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2016 |title=Vodafone sets end date for 3G as Project Spring ends |url=https://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/press-wire/vodafone-sets-end-date-for-3g-as-project-spring-ends |access-date=6 August 2017 |publisher=Mobileeurope.co.uk |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116190806/https://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/press-wire/vodafone-sets-end-date-for-3g-as-project-spring-ends |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first1=Leila |last1=Abboud |first2=Paul |last2=Sandle |date=2 September 2013 |title=Vodafone's Project Spring to pressure competitors |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vodafone-verizon-capex-idUSBRE9820GW20130903 |access-date=6 August 2017 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref>

In June 2017, the company took measures to prevent its advertising from appearing within outlets focused on creating and sharing hate speech and fake news.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frangoul |first=Anmar |date=7 June 2017 |title=Vodafone introduces new rules to stop its ads appearing alongside fake news and hate speech |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/07/vodafone-introduces-new-rules-to-stop-its-ads-appearing-alongside-fake-news-and-hate-speech.html |access-date=5 August 2017 |publisher=Cnbc.com}}</ref>

In January 2020, Vodafone confirmed that it has pulled out of [[Diem (digital currency)|Diem Association]] (known as Libra Association at the time), the governing council for the [[Facebook]]-created global digital currency initiative.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Titcomb |first=James |date=21 January 2020 |title=Vodafone hangs up on Libra in latest blow to Facebook's cryptocurrency |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/01/21/vodafone-hangs-libra-latest-blow-facebooks-cryptocurrency/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/01/21/vodafone-hangs-libra-latest-blow-facebooks-cryptocurrency/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In December 2022, Nick Read stepped down as Vodafone CEO, after overseeing a 40% share price fall during his four year tenure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=2022-12-05 |title=Vodafone boss to step down after sharp drop in share price |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/05/vodafone-boss-to-step-down-after-sharp-drop-in-share-price-nick-read |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In June 2023, it was announced that [[Vodafone UK]] would merge with [[Three UK]]; Vodafone would own 51% of the combined company, and CK Hutchison Holdings 49%. Once approved by regulators, the merger created a group with 27 million mobile customers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-14 |title=Vodafone Three deal to create UK's largest mobile firm |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65842845 |access-date=2023-06-14}}</ref> On 3 July 2024, Vodafone and [[Virgin Media O2]] announced they would extend their network-sharing deal into the mid-2030s, including a spectrum shift to aid Vodafone's $19 billion merger with Three UK, which faced a [[Competition and Markets Authority]] (CMA) investigation. The deal, involved selling some of its combined 59% of the best 5G spectrum to Virgin Media O2, to address regulatory concerns about reducing mobile networks from four to three in Britain. Vodafone pledged a £11 billion investment in 5G if the merger was approved, asserting the merger would strengthen competition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vodafone agrees new Virgin Media O2 tie-up to ease competition concerns |date=3 July 2024 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uks-vodafone-virgin-media-agree-new-network-sharing-deal-2024-07-03/ |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref> In November 2024, the CMA provisionally concluded that the Vodafone and Three Merger could go ahead, if both companies made price promises for consumers and committed to boosting the UK's 5G rollout.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=Vodafone-Three merger could get green light, watchdog says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgznpx44q3o |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In June 2024, Vodafone Group sold an 18% stake in Indian company [[Indus Towers]], raising $1.82 billion to reduce its debt. Initially planning to sell a 10% stake, strong investor demand led Vodafone to nearly double the sale. [[Bharti Airtel]] increased its stake in Indus to about 49% by purchasing around 1% of the shares. The sale generated 153 billion rupees and reduced Vodafone's stake in Indus from 21.5% to 3.1%.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sriram |first1=M. |last2=Mandayam |first2=Nandan |title=UK's Vodafone sells $1.8 bln stake in India's Indus Towers; Airtel boosts stake |date=19 June 2024 |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/vodafone-raises-stake-sale-indias-indus-towers-up-2-bln-term-sheet-shows-2024-06-19/ |access-date=23 June 2024}}</ref>

In November 2024, Vodafone Group announced plans to sell its remaining 3.1% stake in Indus Towers to Bharti Airtel for approximately $166 million (13.8 billion Indian rupees). The sale was part of Vodafone's ongoing strategy to simplify its portfolio and focus on core markets. The transaction was expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, subject to regulatory approvals.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Julia Fioretti |author2=Baiju Kalesh |author3=Hemal Savai |date=2024-12-04 |title=Vodafone Seeks Up to $335 Million in Indus Towers Stake Sale |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2024/12/04/vodafone-to-sell-remaining-stake-in-indian-tower-company-indus/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=BNN Bloomberg |language=en}}</ref> In January 2025, it was announced that the remaining shares had been sold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sweeting |first=Georgia |date=10 January 2025 |title=Vodafone fully offloads remaining Indus Towers stake |url=https://totaltele.com/vodafone-fully-offloads-remaining-indus-towers-stake/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=totaltele.com}}</ref>

In December 2024, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved the merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK, forming the country's largest mobile network. Despite concerns about potential price increases, the CMA's approval was conditional on significant investments in 5G infrastructure and legally binding commitments to improve services. These included capping mobile tariffs and offering set contractual terms to mobile virtual network operators for three years. The CMA and Ofcom will oversee the implementation of these commitments, ensuring consumer protections are maintained.<ref>{{cite news|last=Taaffe-Maguire |first=Sarah |title=UK biggest phone network created as Three-Vodafone merger gets conditional approval |date=5 December 2024 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uk-biggest-phone-network-created-as-three-vodafone-merger-gets-conditional-approval-13267238 |website=Sky News |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

==Operations==
Following a period of worldwide expansion which began in 1999, in the 2010s Vodafone entered a period of retrenchment and simplification of its operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vodafone Group still focusing on retrenchment |url=https://www.telcotitans.com/vodafonewatch/vodafone-group-still-focusing-on-retrenchment/232.article |website=TelcoTitans|date=20 August 2019 |access-date=17 August 2021 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===Africa===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Networks in Africa
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="2"|Majority-owned
!rowspan=4|
! style="background:#ececec;"|Minority-owned
!rowspan=4|
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="1"|Partner networks
|-
|DR Congo*
|[[Vodafone Egypt|Egypt]]*
|Ethiopia
|Ghana 
|-
|[[Safaricom|Kenya]]*
|Lesotho*
|
|
|-
|Mozambique*
|South Africa*
|
|
|-
|[[Vodacom Tanzania|Tanzania]]*
|
|
|
|-
|colspan="7" style="font-size:90%; line-height: 1em; background:#F2F2F2"|* Majority stakes held through majority-owned Vodacom Group
|}

====Cameroon====

On 23 September 2016, Vodafone extended its activities to Cameroon by signing a partnership with Afrimax, a 4G-LTE telecommunications operator in Africa. Vodafone Cameroon Launched a "Youth Program" in the Universities to support and encourage the Cameroonian students.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vodafone Cameroun launches the implementation of its "Youth Program" |language=en-gb |work=Cameroon Concord |url=http://cameroon-concord.com/business/item/7446-vodafone-cameroun-launches-the-implementation-of-its-youth-program |access-date=22 December 2016 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125050051/https://cameroon-concord.com/business/item/7446-vodafone-cameroun-launches-the-implementation-of-its-youth-program |url-status=dead }}</ref> The partnership ceased to operate in September 2017 following the withdrawal of its license by the government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiki |first=Bandy |date=2017-11-12 |title=Vodafone ends operations in Cameroon following withdrawal of license |url=http://kinnakasblog.com/2017/11/vodafone-ends-operations-in-cameroon-following-withdrawal-of-license/ |access-date=2020-05-31 |website=Kinnaka's Blog |language=en-GB}}</ref>

====Egypt====
In November 1998, the [[Vodafone Egypt]] network went live under the name Click GSM, and was rebranded to Vodafone in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Vodafone Egypt |url=https://www.vodafone.com.eg/vodafoneportalWeb/en/P613722281289132343406 |access-date=26 June 2020 |publisher=Vodafone Egypt |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015630/https://www.vodafone.com.eg/vodafoneportalWeb/en/P613722281289132343406 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 8 November 2006, the company announced a deal with [[Telecom Egypt]], resulting in further co-operation in the Egyptian market and increasing its stake in Vodafone Egypt. After the deal, Vodafone Egypt was 55% owned by the group, while the remaining 45% was owned by Telecom Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2006 |title=Vodafone and Telecom Egypt announce new strategic partnership |url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=200611080820267244L |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Investegate{{sic|hide=y}}}}</ref>

On 29 January 2020, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and the Vodafone Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of Vodafone's entire 55 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt to STC. With the sale, Vodafone would have exited the Egyptian market as a telecom operator. Telecom Egypt had said that it had no plans to sell its 45% stake.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2020 |title=It's Official: STC to acquire 55 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt for $2.39 billion |url=https://www.menabytes.com/stc-vodafone-egypt/ |access-date=29 January 2020 |publisher=menabytes{{sic|hide=y}}}}</ref> However, on 21 December 2020, Vodafone announced that it had failed to reach an agreement with STC regarding the sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-vodafone-m-a-stc-idUKKBN28V0OZ|title= Vodafone set to stay in Egypt after STC deal collapses|publisher=Reuters|date=21 December 2020|access-date=6 February 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, Vodafone sold its shares in Vodafone Egypt to its majority-owned African arm [[Vodacom]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pham |first=Manny |date=2022-12-13 |title=Vodacom acquires majority stake in Vodafone Egypt |url=https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news/14327-vodacom-acquires-majority-stake-in-vodafone-egypt.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Developing Telecoms |language=en-gb}}</ref>

====Ghana====
On 3 July 2008, Vodafone agreed to acquire a 70% stake in [[Ghana Telecom]] for $900&nbsp;million. The acquisition was consummated on 17 August 2008. The same group-led consortium won the second fixed-line licence in Qatar on 15 September 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2008 |title=Vodafone buys 70% stake in Ghana mobile firm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jul/03/vodafonegroup |access-date=14 April 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref>

On 15 April 2009, Ghana Telecom, along with its mobile subsidiary OneTouch, was rebranded as [[Vodafone Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 April 2009 |title=GT rebranded to vodafone |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/211318/gt-rebranded-to-vodafone.html |access-date=14 April 2017 |newspaper=Modern Ghana}}</ref>

In February 2023, Vodafone Group has concluded the sale of its 70% stake in Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Group in a bid to streamline its African portfolio, thus exiting the Ghanaian market.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.connectingafrica.com/author.asp?section_id=761&doc_id=783336|title=Vodafone sells out of Ghana|date=21 February 2023|newspaper=Connecting Africa|access-date=5 April 2023}}</ref>

====Libya====
On 24 February 2010, the group signed a partner network agreement with the second-largest operator in Libya, al Madar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2011 |title=Access: Inserting human right into telecoms one company at a time |url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2011/08/21/access-inserting-human-right-into-telecoms-one-company-at-a-time/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |work=Daily News Egypt}}</ref>

====South Africa====
On 3 November 2004, the company announced that its South African affiliate [[Vodacom]] had agreed to introduce Vodafone's international services, such as [[Vodafone live!]] and partner agreements, to its local market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2004 |title=Agreement with Vodacom |url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/vodafone-group-plc--vod-/rns/agreement-with-vodacom/200411030930007896E/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Investegate{{sic|hide=y}} |archive-date=13 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113030011/https://www.investegate.co.uk/vodafone-group-plc--vod-/rns/agreement-with-vodacom/200411030930007896E/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November 2005, Vodafone announced that it was in exclusive talks to buy a 15% stake of VenFin in Vodacom Group, reaching agreement the following day. Vodafone and [[Telkom (South Africa)|Telkom]] then had a 50% stake each in Vodacom. Vodafone now owns 57.5% of Vodacom after purchasing a 15% stake from Telkom.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120722095440/http://uk.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUKLI47893820090519 Vodacom focuses on data as profit drops after debut] Reuters, 19 May 2009</ref>

On 9 October 2008, the company offered to acquire an additional 15% stake in Vodacom Group from Telkom. The finalised details of the agreement were announced on 6 November 2008. The agreement called for Telkom to sell 15 per cent of its 50 per cent stake in Vodacom to the group, and demerge the other 35 per cent to its shareholders. Meanwhile, Vodafone agreed to make Vodacom its exclusive sub-Saharan Africa investment vehicle, as well as continuing to maintain the visibility of the Vodacom brand. The transaction closed in May/June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 November 2008 |title=Vodafone to acquire an additional 15% stake in Vodacom Group |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/770576-Vodafone-to-acquire-an-additional-15-stake-in-Vodacom-Group-06-November-2008 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=My Broadband}}</ref>

On 18 May 2009, Vodacom entered the [[JSE Limited]] stock exchange in South Africa after Vodafone increased its stake by 15% to 65% to take a majority holding, despite disputes by local trade unions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2009 |title=Vodacom makes strong debut on JSE |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-05-18-vodacom-makes-strong-debut-on-jse |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Mail and Guardian}}</ref>

In April 2011, Vodacom rebranded with the Vodafone logo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2011 |title=Vodacom rebrands, turns 'red and simple |url=http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/12/58333.html |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Biz Community}}</ref>

===Middle East===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Networks in the Middle East
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="1"|Partner networks
|-
|Oman
|-
|Qatar
|-
|}

====Bahrain====
On 29 December 2003, Vodafone signed a Partner Network Agreement with Kuwait's MTC group. The agreement involved co-operation in Bahrain and the branding of the network as MTC-Vodafone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 December 2003 |title=Vodafone Extends Partner Community With Second MTC Agreement |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vodafone-extends-partner-community-with-second-mtc-agreement-73415602.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415103848/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vodafone-extends-partner-community-with-second-mtc-agreement-73415602.html |archive-date=15 April 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref>

====Oman====
In January 2021, Vodafone obtained a license to establish and operate public telecommunications services in [[Oman]]. In September 2021 Vodafone in Oman signed an agreement with [[Ericsson]] to deploy, operate and maintain 4G and 5G core and radio access (RAN) greenfield network<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-29|title=Ericsson powers Vodafone Oman 5G|url=https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/5/2021/vodafone-in-omans-new-5g-network-to-be-powered-by-ericsson-through-core-radio-transport-and-managed-services|access-date=2021-10-28|website=www.ericsson.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-30|title=Vodafone Oman signs 5G agreement with Ericsson|url=https://satelliteprome.com/news/vodafone-oman-signs-5g-agreement-with-ericsson/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=SatellitePro ME|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Barton|first=James|date=2021-10-01|title=Vodafone Oman selects Ericsson as core network supplier|url=https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/wireless-networks/12009-vodafone-oman-selects-ericsson-as-core-network-supplier.html|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Developing Telecoms|language=en-gb}}</ref> and an agreement with [[Netcracker Technology]] to deploy Netcracker Digital BSS.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vodafone Oman Selects Netcracker Digital BSS To Support Mobile Network Launch|url=https://www.totaltele.com/510963/Vodafone-Oman-Selects-Netcracker-Digital-BSS-To-Support-Mobile-Network-Launch|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Totaltelecom|language=en}}</ref> Vodafone will be the third operator in the Sultanate of Oman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 January 2021 |title=Vodafone gets license to become the third operator in Oman |url=https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/business/story/Vodafone_gets_license_to_become_the_third_operator_in_Oman-SNG_196892296/ |access-date=3 March 2021 |publisher=Zawya}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2021 |title=Vodafone gets green light to operate in Oman |url=https://www.itp.net/infrastructure/networking/95469-vodafone-gets-green-light-to-operate-in-oman |access-date=3 March 2021 |publisher=Itp.net}}</ref>

====Qatar====
In December 2007, a Vodafone Group-led consortium was awarded the second mobile phone licence in Qatar under the name "Vodafone Qatar". Vodafone Qatar is located at QSTP, the [[Qatar Science & Technology Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 July 2012 |title=It's Time to hang up on Vodafone Qatar |url=http://www.bold-mag.com/classicarticle.php?var=&issueId=4&catId=2&articleId=14#.WPFDMojysdU |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Bold Mag}}</ref> Commercial operations officially began on 1 March 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2017 |title=Vodafone Qatar network fully restored, says company |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/557841/Vodafone-Qatar-network-fully-restored-says-company |access-date=25 July 2017 |publisher=Gulf Times}}</ref> In February 2018 Vodafone Europe agreed to sell their stake in the Qatar joint venture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 February 2018 |title=Vodafone Europe agrees to sell stake in Qatar joint venture for €301m |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/vodafone-europe-agrees-to-sell-stake-in-qatar-joint-venture-for-301m-1.3407836 |access-date=24 June 2018 |publisher=Irish Times}}</ref>

On 25 November 2019, Vodafone in collaboration with Inseego Corp. introduced the 5G MiFi M1100 in Qatar. It was the first commercially available 5G mobile hotspot in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Qatar Premieres the Region's First 5G MiFi® Mobile Hotspot from Inseego |date=25 November 2019 |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191125005283/en/Vodafone-Qatar-Premieres-Region%E2%80%99s-5G-MiFi%C2%AE-Mobile |access-date=25 November 2019 |publisher=Business Wire}}</ref>

====United Arab Emirates====
On 28 January 2009, the group announced a partner network agreement with [[Du (telco)|Du]], the second-largest operator in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement involved co-operation on international clients, handset procurement, mobile broadband etc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2009 |title=Vodafone signs deal in UAE |url=http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2009/01/28/vodafone-signs-deal-in-uae/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Mobile News |archive-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804210535/http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2009/01/28/vodafone-signs-deal-in-uae/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===The Americas===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Networks in the Americas 
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="1"|Partner networks
|-
|Argentina 
|-
|Canada
|-
|Chile
|-
|Peru
|-
|USA* 
|-
|colspan="7" style="font-size:90%; line-height: 1em; background:#F2F2F2"|* Enterprise Only
|}

;Canada 
Vodafone's network partner in Canada was [[Rogers Wireless]]. but has since changed to [[Telus Communications|Telus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://financialpost.com/technology/vodafone-enters-canadian-phone-market-with-rogers-partnership|title=Rogers Communications and Vodafone team up, but what does it all mean?|date=3 June 2014|newspaper=Financial Post|access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref>

;Chile
On 11 May 2008, Vodafone sealed a trade agreement with the Chilean [[Entel PCS]] Chile, in which Entel PCS has access to the equipment and international services of Vodafone, and Vodafone will be one of the trademarks of Entel for the wireless business. This step will give the Vodafone brand access to a market of over 15 million people, currently divided between two companies: [[Telefonica]] [[Movistar]] and Entel PCS.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2008 |title=Vodafone enters Chile via Entel partnership |url=http://telecoms.com/9472/vodafone-enters-chile-via-entel-partnership/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecoms}}</ref>

;Brazil
In August 2013, Vodafone has started the MVNO operation in Brazil, as a corporative M2M operator.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 August 2013 |title=Vodafone sets up M2M brand in Brazil |url=http://telecoms.com/168232/vodafone-sets-up-m2m-brand-in-brazil/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecoms}}</ref>

;United States
In the United States, Vodafone previously owned 45% of [[Verizon Wireless]] in a [[joint venture]] with [[Verizon Communications]], the country's largest mobile carrier. Vodafone branding was not used, however, as the CDMA network was not compatible with the GSM 900/1800&nbsp;MHz standard used by Vodafone's other networks and as Vodafone did not have management control over Verizon Wireless. On 2 September 2013 Vodafone announced the sale of its stake to Verizon Communications for around $130 billion.<ref name="bbc-verizon" /> In 2004, Vodafone made an unsuccessful bid for the entirety of [[AT&T Wireless Services|AT&T Wireless]]; however, Cingular Wireless, at the time a joint venture of SBC Communications and [[BellSouth]] (both now part of [[AT&T Inc.]]), outbid Vodafone and took control of AT&T Wireless (the combined wireless carrier is now [[AT&T Mobility]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 February 2004 |title=Vodafone weighs AT&T Wireless bid |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/02/09/vodafone.att.reut/index.html |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref>

In 2013, Vodafone was considered for acquisition by U.S.-based [[AT&T]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Daniel |date=3 December 2013 |title=Should AT&T buy Vodafone? |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |department=Telecoms Correspondent |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a15b86fe-5b42-11e3-a2ba-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/a15b86fe-5b42-11e3-a2ba-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bienenstock |first=Robin |date=3 September 2013 |title=VIDEO: Vodafone Seen to Become Takeover Target for AT&T |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/b/078eac28-ae34-4b7e-8402-15dbd2881bd0 |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> Ultimately, the deal did not move forward.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=Amy |date=27 January 2014 |title=AT&T Gives Up Right to Bid for Vodafone Within Six Month |department=Technology Dept. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-01-27/at-t-says-it-has-no-plan-to-make-takeover-offer-for-vodafone |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>

===Asia===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Networks in Asia
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="1"|Joint Venture
!rowspan=4|
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="3"|Partner Networks
!rowspan=4|
|-
|[[Vodafone Idea Limited|India]]
|Japan  
|Singapore
|South Korea
|-
|
|Taiwan
|
|
|-
|}

====India====
On 28 October 2005, the company announced the acquisition of a 10 per cent stake in India's [[Bharti Enterprises]], which operated the largest mobile phone network in India under the brand name [[Bharti Airtel|''Airtel'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 October 2005 |title=Vodafone returns to India with a 10% stake in Bharti |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2005/oct/29/india.mobilephones |access-date=14 April 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref> Then on 11 February 2007, the Company agreed to acquire a controlling interest of 67% in [[Hutch Essar]] for US$11.1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2007 |title=Vodafone acquires Hutchison Essar stake |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0c6cb68a-fdb1-11db-8d62-000b5df10621 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/0c6cb68a-fdb1-11db-8d62-000b5df10621 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=FT}}</ref> At the same time, it agreed to sell back 5.6% of its ''Airtel'' stake to the Mittals; Vodafone would retain a 4.4% stake in ''Airtel''. On 21 September 2007, Hutch was rebranded to [[Vodafone India]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2007 |title=Vodafone unleashes media blitzkrieg to re-brand Hutch |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-marketing/vodafone-unleashes-media-blitzkrieg-to-rebrand-hutch/article1670335.ece |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> In May 2011, Vodafone Group Plc bought the remaining shares of Vodafone Essar from Essar Group Ltd for $5&nbsp;billion.<ref>Smith, George. (1 July 2011) [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-01/vodafone-essar-said-to-split-785-million-tax-bill-in-india.html Vodafone, Essar Said to Split $785&nbsp;million Tax Bill in India]. Bloomberg. Retrieved 8 July 2011.</ref> In October 2013, it was reported by Reuters that Vodafone planned to invest as much as $2 billion (£1.2 billion) to buy out minority shareholders in Vodafone India.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160415092304/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-vodafone-india-idUKBRE9960QF20131007 Vodafone plans $2 billion investment to raise stake in Indian unit – FT | Reuters]. Uk.reuters.com (7 October 2013). Retrieved on 8 December 2013.</ref>

By late January 2017, Vodafone Group's unit in India and [[Idea Cellular]] Ltd were in preliminary talks to merge.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Purnell |first1=Newley |title=Vodafone in Talks to Merge Indian Unit With Idea Cellular |date=30 January 2017 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/vodafone-in-talks-to-merge-indian-unit-with-idea-cellular-1485767434 |place=New York City |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |access-date=31 January 2017 |last2=Woo |first2=Stu}}</ref> On 20 March 2017, Vodafone announced that it was merging its Indian business with Idea, India's third-largest network, to create the country's third largest operator with almost 270 million customers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile subscribers in India by company 2019 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/258794/mobile-telecom-subscribers-in-india-by-company/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> accounting for 16% of the Indian cellphone market.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39324696 ''Vodafone's Indian unit and Idea Cellular announce merger'', BBC News, 20 March 2017]. Retrieved: 20 March 2017</ref> Vodafone would own 45.1 percent of the new operator and Idea's parent company, the [[Aditya Birla Group]], 26 percent. The deal valued Vodafone India at the equivalent of $12.6 billion and Idea Cellular at the equivalent of $11.02 billion. The deal would enable Vodafone to move its Indian subsidiary off its balance sheet, cutting the British group's net debt by the equivalent of almost $8.25 billion.<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/e4f5a126-0d2b-11e7-a88c-50ba212dce4d ''Vodafone forced to merge India unit amid price war'', Aliya Ram and Simon Mundy, Financial Times, London, 20 March 2017]. Retrieved: 20 March 2017</ref> The [[Department of Telecommunications (India)|Telecom ministry (DoT)]] cleared the Vodofone–Idea merger on 9 July 2018. On 31 August 2018, [[Vodafone Idea]] became a legal entity and the largest telecom service provider in India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 2018 |title=Telecom Ministry clears Vodafone – Idea merger with conditions |work=Business Standard |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/telecom-ministry-clears-idea-vodafone-merger-with-conditions-govt-sources-118070900841_1.html}}</ref> On 7 September 2020, Vodafone Idea unveiled its new brand identity, 'Vi' which involves the integration of the company's separate brands 'Vodafone' and 'Idea' into one unified brand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-07 |title=Vodafone Idea re-brands itself 'Vi' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/vodafone-idea-new-brand-identity-vi-key-announcements-6586229/ |access-date=2020-09-07 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone and Idea brands are now "Vi" |url=https://www.vodafoneidea.com/content/dam/vodafone-microsite/docs/pdf/pressrelease/New%20brand%20Press%20Release_Media%20.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-07 |title=Vodafone Idea rebrands itself, to go by brand name Vi |url=https://zeenews.india.com/companies/vodafone-idea-rebrands-itself-to-go-by-brand-name-vi-2308087.html |access-date=2020-09-07 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref>

====Japan====
In 1999, J-Phone launched the J-sky mobile Internet service in response to [[NTT DoCoMo|DoCoMo]]'s [[i-Mode]] service. It became Japan's third-largest mobile operator and was the first one to introduce camera phones in Japan. Vodafone then went on to acquire J-phone.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1547555.stm Vodafone to make J-Phone offer]</ref> In December 2002 J-Phone's [[3G]] network went live. On 1 October 2003, J-Phone became 'Vodafone Japan', and J-Phone's mobile internet service J-Sky became [[Vodafone Live!]]. On 17 March 2006, Vodafone announced an agreement to sell all its interest in Vodafone Japan to [[SoftBank]] for £8.9&nbsp;billion, of which £6.8&nbsp;billion would be received in cash upon completion of the deal. In October 2006, SoftBank changed Vodafone Japan's name to '[[SoftBank Mobile]]'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2006 |title=SoftBank turnaround program for Vodafone-Japan |url=http://www.eurotechnology.com/2006/05/21/softbank-mobile/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Euro technology}}</ref> In November 2010, Vodafone divested its remaining SoftBank shares.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sonne |first=Paul |date=10 November 2010 |title=Vodafone to Sell Back Softbank Interests for $5 Billion |work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704635704575603713251623250 |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>

====Other Asia====
On 3 November 2003, Singapore became a part of the community as [[M1 Limited|M1]] was signed as partner network.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 November 2003 |title=Vodafone to link up with mobile firm in Far East |newspaper=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/tech/vodafone-to-link-up-with-mobile-firm-in-far-east-1-903004 |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> Then in April 2005, [[SmarTone]] changed the name of its brand to '[[SmarTone-Vodafone]]', after both companies signed a Partner Network Agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2005 |title=Launch of SmarTone-Vodafone – a new brand |url=https://www.smartone.com/about_us/media_centre/press_release/2005/04/2005_04_27.pdf |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=SmarTone}}</ref> In January 2006, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka were added to the Vodafone footprint as Vodafone Group signed a partner network agreement with [[Telekom Malaysia]].
On 6 February 2007, along with the partnership with [[Digicel]] Caribbean (see below), Samoa was added as a Partner Market. On 6 February 2007, Vodafone Group signed a three-year partnership agreement with Digicel Group. The agreement, which included Digicel's operation in Samoa, would result in new roaming capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2007 |title=Vodafone, Digicel in roaming partnership |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-digicel-in-roaming-partnership--544958 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref>

On 10 February 2008, Vodafone announced the launch of M-Paisa mobile [[money transmitter|money transfer service]] on [[Roshan (Telecom)|Roshan's]] (Afghanistan's largest GSM operator) network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2008 |title=Vodafone launches a mobile money transfer system in Afghanistan |url=http://www.plusworld.org/daily/vodafone-launches-a-mobile-money-transfer-system-in-afghanistan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415104027/http://www.plusworld.org/daily/vodafone-launches-a-mobile-money-transfer-system-in-afghanistan/ |archive-date=15 April 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Plus World}}</ref>

[[dtac]] in Thailand was signed as a partner network of the Group on 25 March 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 March 2009 |title=Dtac partners with Vodafone |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/dtac-partners-with-vodafone--664542 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref>

[[Chunghwa Telecom]] of Taiwan was signed as a partner network on 12 November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2009 |title=Chunghwa and Vodafone sign partnership agreement |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2009/11/12/chunghwa-and-vodafone-sign-partnership-agreement/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116004346/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2009/11/12/chunghwa-and-vodafone-sign-partnership-agreement/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In September 2011, it was announced that Vodafone and Smartone would not renew their partnership in the Hong Kong market. Vodafone instead entered into an agreement with [[Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings|Hutchison Telecom]], who operate the ''3'' brand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hutchison Telecom and Vodafone agree on partnership in Hong Kong|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-09-20/hutchison-telecom-vodafone-agree-on-partnership-in-hong-kong
|publisher=Bloomberg|date=20 September 2011|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref> In the same year, M1 also ended their partnership in Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SmarTone, M1 dropping Vodafone marketing partnerships at end of year |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2011/09/20/smartone-m1-dropping-vodafone-marketing-partnerships-at-end-of-year/ |access-date=2019-04-14 |website=www.telegeography.com |archive-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414064848/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2011/09/20/smartone-m1-dropping-vodafone-marketing-partnerships-at-end-of-year/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In February 2013, Vodafone together with [[China Mobile]] participated in bidding for one of the two newly opened Myanmar Mobile licences.<ref name="ref2013040505">{{Cite news |date=5 April 2013 |title=Vodafone, China Mobile eye Myanmar |publisher=Investvine.com |url=http://investvine.com/vodafone-china-mobile-eye-myanmar/ |access-date=5 April 2013 |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111063740/https://investvine.com/vodafone-china-mobile-eye-myanmar/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the beginning of September 2014, the Vietnamese mobile operator [[Vinaphone]] signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Vodafone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2014 |title=Vinaphone, Vodafone ink cooperation deal |url=http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2014/09/02/vinaphone-vodafone-ink-cooperation-deal/ |access-date=2 September 2014 |publisher=TeleGeography |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024153516/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2014/09/02/vinaphone-vodafone-ink-cooperation-deal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Europe===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; clear:right; text-align: center;"
|+ Networks in Europe
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="2"|Majority-owned
!rowspan=9|
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="4"| Partnerships
|-
|[[Vodafone Albania|Albania]]
|[[Vodafone Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]
|Austria
|Azerbaijan
|[[Proximus|Belgium]]
|Bosnia & Herzegovina
|-
|[[Vodafone Germany|Germany]]
|[[Vodafone Greece|Greece]]
|Bulgaria
|[[Airtel-Vodafone|Channel Islands]]
|Croatia
|Cyprus
|-
|[[Vodafone Ireland|Ireland]]
|[[Vodafone Netherlands|Netherlands]]
|Denmark
|Estonia
|[[Elisa (company)|Finland]]
|[[SFR|France]]
|-
|[[KKTC Telsim|Northern Cyprus]]<br><small>(indirectly owned)</small>
|[[Vodafone Portugal|Portugal]]
|Georgia
|[[One Hungary|Hungary]]
|[[Sýn (media corporation)|Iceland]]
|[[Vodafone Italy|Italy]]
|-
|[[Vodafone Romania|Romania]]
|[[Vodafone Turkey|Turkey]]
|Latvia
|Lithuania
|[[Tango (telecom)|Luxembourg]]
|Montenegro
|-
|[[Vodafone UK|United Kingdom]]
|
|North Macedonia
|Norway
|Serbia
|Slovenia
|-
|
|
|[[Vodafone Spain|Spain]]
|Sweden
|Switzerland
|[[Vodafone Ukraine|Ukraine]]
|-
|}

Vodafone Magyarország Zrt ("Vodafone Hungary") was formed as a subsidiary company in July 1999, although Vodafone has since sold its shares in the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=London Stock Exchange |url=https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/VOD/vodafone-completes-sale-of-vodafone-hungary/about:blank |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=London Stock Exchange |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Hungary's company history |url=http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/about-us/vodafone-hungary/history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808214936/http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/about-us/vodafone-hungary/history |archive-date=8 August 2012 |access-date=24 February 2017 |publisher=Vodafone.hu}}</ref> The acquisition of [[Mannesmann AG]], completed on 12 April 2000, creating subsidiaries in Germany and Italy, and increased the Group's indirect holding in [[SFR]]. The Vodafone brand in Italy was introduced as Omnitel Vodafone in 2001, which became Vodafone Omnitel in 2002; finally the current name [[Vodafone Italy]] was introduced in 2003, dropping Omnitel altogether.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Omnitel: l'ingresso della Olivetti nella telefonia mobile |url=http://www.storiaolivetti.it/percorso.asp?idPercorso=592 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202002415/http://www.storiaolivetti.it/percorso.asp?idPercorso=592 |archive-date=2 February 2012 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Olivetti}}</ref>

In 2001, the company acquired [[Vodafone Ireland|Eircell]], the largest wireless communications company in Ireland, from [[Eircom]].<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4476253/Vodafone-buys-Eircell-in-2.4bn-all-share-deal.html Vodafone buys Eircell in £2.4bn all-share deal] The Telegraph, 22 December 2000</ref> Eircell was subsequently rebranded as [[Vodafone Ireland]]. In February 2002, [[Radiolinja]] of Finland joined Vodafone as a partner network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 February 2002 |title=Vodafone, Radiolinja sign second partner contract |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-radiolinja-sign-second-partner-contract--296656 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> Later in December 2002, the Vodafone brand was introduced in the Estonian market following the signing of a Partner Network Agreement with the Estonian subsidiary of Radiolinja.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2002 |title=Radiolinja Eesti signs partner agreement with Vodafone |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/radiolinja-eesti-signs-partner-agreement-with-vodafone--306362 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> Radiolinja's Finnish service was rebranded as Elisa in April 2004 following its parent company [[Elisa (company)|Elisa Corporation]]'s decision to unify all consumer-facing brands under a single name;<ref>{{cite press release|title=Elisa adopts single umbrella brand – Elisa brand |url=https://elisa.com/corporate/news-room/press-releases/elisa-adopts-single-umbrella-brand-%C3%A4-elisa-brand/15.04.2004-1415899249/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |publisher=[[Elisa (company)|Elisa Corporation]] |date=15 April 2004 |language=en}}</ref> this was followed by Radiolinja's Estonian service in February 2005, in anticipation of the later juridical merger with Uninet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Radiolinja ja Uninet ühinevad Elisa kaubamärgi alla |url=https://www.postimees.ee/1457949/radiolinja-ja-uninet-uhinevad-elisa-kaubamargi-alla |access-date=7 February 2022 |agency=[[Baltic News Service]] |date=2 February 2005 |language=et |via=[[Postimees]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Elisa brand implemented in Estonia as well |url=https://elisa.com/corporate/news-room/press-releases/elisa-brand-implemented-in-estonia-as-well/04.02.2005--1751957787/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |publisher=[[Elisa (company)|Elisa Corporation]] |date=4 February 2005 |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2003, the company signed a group-wide partner agreement with [[mobilkom Austria]] and as a result Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia were added to the community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 January 2003 |title=Vodafone signs network agreement with Mobilkom Austria |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2003/01/07/vodafone-signs-network-agreement-with-mobilkom-austria/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118113143/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2003/01/07/vodafone-signs-network-agreement-with-mobilkom-austria/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2003, [[Sýn (media corporation)|Og Vodafone]] was introduced in the Icelandic market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2003 |title=Vodafone's global mobile services available in Iceland |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafones-global-mobile-services-available-in-iceland--354505 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> On 21 July 2003, Lithuania was added to the community, with the signing of a Partner Network Agreement with Bitė.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 July 2003 |title=Vodafone signs Partner Network Agreement with Bite {{Sic|nolink=y}} |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-signs-partner-network-agreement-with-bite--358104 |access-date=14 April 2017 |work=Telecom Paper}}</ref>

In February 2004, Vodafone signed Partner Network Agreements with Luxembourg's [[LUXGSM|LuxGSM]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2004 |title=LUXGSM, Vodafone sign Partner Network Agreement |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/luxgsm-vodafone-sign-partner-network-agreement--407920 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> and with [[CYTA|Cyta]] in Cyprus. Cyta agreed to rename its mobile phone operations to Cytamobile-Vodafone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2004 |title=Cyta Mobile buddies up with Vodafone |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2004/02/23/cyta-mobile-buddies-up-with-vodafone/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102133/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2004/02/23/cyta-mobile-buddies-up-with-vodafone/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2004, the company acquired a British airtime provider, Singlepoint, for £405m from John Caudwell's [[Caudwell Group]], adding approximately 1.5&nbsp;million customers and sites in Stoke-on-Trent to existing sites in Newbury (HQ), Birmingham, Warrington and Banbury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2003 |title=Vodafone snaps up Singlepoint |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3141571.stm |access-date=31 October 2019 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In November 2004, Vodafone introduced [[3G]] services into Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2004 |title=Vodafone launches 3G in UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/nov/10/mobilephones.vodafonegroup |access-date=14 April 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref>

In June 2005, the Company bought the Czech mobile operator Oskar<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2005 |title=Vodafone's Romanian, Czech cellco purchases finalised |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2005/06/01/vodafones-romanian-czech-cellco-purchases-finalised/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727115152/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2005/06/01/vodafones-romanian-czech-cellco-purchases-finalised/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> which was rebranded as Oskar-Vodafone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 July 2005 |title=Duální branding Oskar – Vodafone |url=http://mam.ihned.cz/c1-16435570-dualni-branding-oskar-vodafone |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Marketing and Media |archive-date=23 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523235950/https://mam.ihned.cz/c1-16435570-dualni-branding-oskar-vodafone |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 28 October 2005, [[Connex GSM|Connex]] in Romania was rebranded as Connex-Vodafone,<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2005 |title=Connex-Vodafone: "impreuna" cu McCann Erickson |url=http://www.adplayers.ro/articol/Business-6/Connex-Vodafone-impreuna-cu-McCann-Erickson-390.html |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Ad Players}}</ref> and on 31 October 2005, the company reached an agreement to sell Vodafone Sweden to [[Telenor]] for approximately €1&nbsp;billion. After the sale, Vodafone Sweden became a partner network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2005 |title=Vodafone sells Swedish arm |work=The Local Sweden |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20051031/2395 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=The Local}}</ref>

In December 2005, Vodafone won a bid to buy Turkey's second-largest mobile phone company, [[Telsim]], for US$4.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 2005 |title=Vodafone buys Turkish mobile firm |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4524744.stm |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> Early in January 2007, Telsim in Turkey adopted Vodafone dual branding as [[Telsim Vodafone]], and on 1 April 2007, became [[Vodafone Turkey]]. In addition, Vodafone Turkey also provides service in Northern Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 March 2007 |title=Vodafone Turkey rebranding |url=https://www.totaltele.com/438001/Vodafone-Turkey-rebranding |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Total Tele}}</ref>

In 2006, the Company rebranded its Stoke-on-Trent site to Stoke Premier Centre, a "centre of expertise" for the company dealing with customer care for its higher-value customers, technical support, sales and credit control.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2005 |title=Vodafone call centre set to close |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4285434.stm |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> On 22 February 2006, the company announced that it was extending its footprint to Bulgaria with the signing of Partner Network Agreement with [[Mobiltel]], which is part of the [[mobilkom Austria]] group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2006 |title=Mobiltel becomes Vodafone partner |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2006/02/23/mobiltel-becomes-vodafone-partner/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212222138/https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2006/02/23/mobiltel-becomes-vodafone-partner/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:CentParkLepRoad.JPG|left|thumb|The headquarters of [[Vodafone Ireland]] in Dublin]]

In April 2006, the company announced that it had signed an extension to its Partner Network Agreement with [[Bitė Group]], enabling its Latvian subsidiary Bite Latvija to become the latest member of Vodafone's global partner community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2006 |title=Vodafone, BITE {{Sic|nolink=y}} Latvija sign co-branding agreement |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-bite-latvija-sign-cobranding-agreement--514371 |access-date=14 April 2017 |work=Telecom Paper}}</ref> On 30 May 2006, Vodafone announced the then-biggest loss in British corporate history (£14.9&nbsp;billion), and that they planned to cut 400 jobs; it reported one-off costs of £23.5&nbsp;billion due to the revaluation of its [[Mannesmann]] subsidiary.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 2006 |title=Record £14.9bn loss at Vodafone |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5028718.stm |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> On 24 July 2006, the head of Vodafone Europe, [[Bill Morrow (Executive)|Bill Morrow]], quit unexpectedly,<ref name="Bill Morrow Article">{{Cite web |date=24 July 2006 |title=Bill Morrow, Vodafone's Turnaround Guru, Walks Away |url=http://www.cellular-news.com/story/18440.php |access-date=9 November 2007 |publisher=Cellular-News}}</ref> and on 25 August 2006, the company announced the sale of its 25% stake in Belgium's [[Proximus]] for €2&nbsp;billion. After the deal, Proximus remained part of the community as a Partner Network.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2006 |title=Vodafone to sell Proximus stake |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/57457748-340b-11db-8187-0000779e2340 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/57457748-340b-11db-8187-0000779e2340 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=FT}}</ref>

On 5 October 2006, Vodafone announced the first single-brand partnership with [[Sýn (media corporation)|Og Vodafone]] which would operate under the name [[Sýn (media corporation)|Vodafone Iceland]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 October 2016 |title=First Single Brand Ptnrship |url=https://www.trustnet.com/Investments/Article.aspx?id=200610051200070158K |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Trust.net}}</ref> and on 19 December 2006, the company announced the sale of its 25% stake in Switzerland's [[Swisscom]] for CHF4.25&nbsp;billion (£1.8&nbsp;billion). After the deal, Swisscom would still be part of the community as a Partner Network.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2006 |title=Vodafone sells Swisscom Mobile stake |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d0182252-8f31-11db-9ba3-0000779e2340 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d0182252-8f31-11db-9ba3-0000779e2340 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=FT}}</ref> In December 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Aspective, an enterprise applications systems integrator in the UK, signalling Vodafone's intent to grow a significant presence and revenues in the [[information and communication technologies]] (ICT) marketplace.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 November 2006 |title=Vodafone buys in to enterprise mobility |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/22/vodafone_aquires_isis_and_aspective/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=The Register}}</ref>
[[File:Munich Leo Parade Vodafone.jpg|right|thumb|The Vodafone Lion on the Löwenparade in Munich, Germany]]

On 1 May 2007, Vodafone added Jersey and Guernsey to the community, as Airtel was signed as Partner Network in both [[crown dependencies]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2007 |title=Jersey & Guernsey Airtel to launch as Airtel-Vodafone |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2007/05/02/jersey-guernsey-airtel-to-launch-as-airtel-vodafone/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729040128/https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2007/05/02/jersey-guernsey-airtel-to-launch-as-airtel-vodafone/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2007, Vodafone UK began optimising web pages accessed through [[Vodafone Live!]], which was criticised by ''[[The Register]]'' for interfering with [[mobile commerce]] websites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Bill |date=6 June 2007 |title=Vodafone Live 'improvements' kill mCommerce |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/06/vodafone_mobile_internet/ |access-date=28 February 2019 |website=The Register}}</ref> On 1 August 2007, [[Vodafone Portugal]] launched Vodafone Messenger, a service with [[Windows Live Messenger]] and [[Yahoo! Messenger]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 August 2007 |title=Vodafone Portugal launches Yahoo! Messenger service |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-portugal-launches-yahoo-messenger-service--566879 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> At the end of 2007, Vodafone Germany was ranked 6th in Europe by subscriber numbers, whilst its Italian operation was listed as 10th. Vodafone UK was ranked 13th, whilst Spain was listed in 16th place.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Mobile Market – Europe's Top 50 Mobile Network Operators by Subscribers |url=http://www.telecomsmarketresearch.com/resources/Mobile_Market_Europe.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716203323/http://www.telecomsmarketresearch.com/resources/Mobile_Market_Europe.shtml |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011 |publisher=Telecomsmarketresearch.com}}</ref>

On 17 April 2008, Vodafone extended its footprint to Serbia as [[Vip mobile]] was added to the community as a Partner Network,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2008 |title=VIP Mobile, Vodafone sign strategic partnership |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vip-mobile-vodafone-sign-strategic-partnership--615366 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> and on 20 May 2008, the Company added [[VIP Operator]] as a Partner Network, thereby extending their global presence to North Macedonia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2008 |title=Vodafone inks partnership deal with Macedonia's VIP Mobile |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2008/05/21/vodafone-inks-partnership-deal-with-macedonias-vip-mobile/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102504/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2008/05/21/vodafone-inks-partnership-deal-with-macedonias-vip-mobile/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 30 October 2008, the company announced a strategic, non-equity partnership with [[Mobile TeleSystems]] (MTS) group of Russia. The agreement added Russia, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan to the group's global presence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 October 2008 |title=MTS and Vodafone |work=Marketwatch |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/MTS-Vodafone-Sign-Strategic-Partnership/story.aspx?guid=%7B38C4BA0D-42EB-4EC7-A598-B56950E8A59E%7D |access-date=9 November 2008}}</ref>

On 20 March 2009, it was announced that the group's Luxembourg partner has been changed: the agreement with LuxGSM was not renewed in favour of [[Tango (telecom)|Tango]], the Luxembourg unit of another partner network, [[Belgacom]] of Belgium.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120730165928/http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/33316/news.htm Vodafone signs partner market agreement with Tango]. Efytimes.com (23 March 2009). Retrieved 8 July 2011.</ref>

On 22 July 2009, [[Nar Mobile]] in Azerbaijan was signed as a partner network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 July 2009 |title=Vodafone expands into Azerbaijan with Azerfon |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-expands-into-azerbaijan-with-azerfon--682591 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref>

On 4 April 2011, Vodafone sold its 44% stake in [[SFR]], the second largest operator in France, to [[Vivendi]] for €7.95 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bawden |first=Tom |title=Vodafone sells SFR stake to Vivendi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/apr/04/vodafone-vivendi-telecoms-sfr-mobile-phone |access-date=21 March 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=4 April 2011 }}</ref>

In March 2013, the Spanish operations of Vodafone signed an agreement with [[Orange S.A.]] to co-invest €1 billion in the expansion of Spain's [[fibre-optic cable]] broadband network, which would enable Vodafone to reach an additional 6 million customers in Spain by 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frankfurt Business Media |url=http://www.cfo-insight.com/financing-liquidity/asset-management/vodafone-cfo-andy-halford-needs-a-better-connection/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112101904/http://www.cfo-insight.com/financing-liquidity/asset-management/vodafone-cfo-andy-halford-needs-a-better-connection/ |archive-date=12 January 2015 |access-date=21 March 2015 |website=cfo-insight.com}}</ref> On 24 June 2013, Vodafone announced it would be buying German cable company [[Kabel Deutschland]]. The takeover was valued at €7.7 billion, and was recommended over the bid of rival [[Liberty Global]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 June 2013 |title=Vodafone agrees 7.7bn-euro deal to buy Kabel Deutschland |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23026955 |access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> In February 2014, Vodafone made an offer to acquire [[Spain]]'s largest cable operator, [[ONO (Spain)|ONO]], for total consideration, including associated net debt acquired, of €7.2 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kate Holton and Robert Hetz |date=10 February 2014 |title=Vodafone bids for Spanish cable operator Ono |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vodafone-ono-bid-idUSBREA190R620140210}}</ref>

In October 2015, [[Russia]]'s [[Mobile TeleSystems]] and Vodafone expanded their 2008 strategic partnership; this resulted in the [[rebranding]] of MTS Ukraine to [[Vodafone Ukraine]].<ref>[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/296684.html MTS Ukraine to operate under Vodafone brand], [[Interfax Ukraine]] (16 October 2015)</ref>

On 31 December 2016, Vodafone Group's Dutch operations merged with [[Liberty Global]]'s [[Ziggo]] brand, creating VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Avery |first1=Greg |last2=Harden |first2=Mark |date=31 December 2016 |title=Liberty Global Completes $3.7B Netherlands Joint-Venture Deal With Vodafone |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2016/12/31/liberty-global-completes-3-7b-netherlands-joint.html |access-date=24 February 2017 |publisher=Denver Business Journal}}</ref>

==== Consolidation period since 2019 ====
Since 2019, Vodafone has entered into a period of consolidation of its European business, characterised mainly by sales of parts of its business, and the spinning off of some of its assets into separate companies. In 2019, Vodafone sold its stake in Vodafone Malta to [[Monaco Telecom]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Announces Agreement To Sell Vodafone Malta |url=https://www.vodafone.com/news/technology-news/vodafone-announces-agreement-to-sell-vodafone-malta |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Vodafone.com}}</ref> Also in 2019, Vodafone Group created a legally separate organisation comprising its European [[Cell site|mobile towers]]. At the same time it was reported that the mobile towers business could be valued at about £10 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Christopher |last2=O'Dwyer |first2=Michael |date=2019-07-26 |title=Vodafone soars on mast spin-off plan |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/07/26/vodafone-climbs-mast-spin-off-plan/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/07/26/vodafone-climbs-mast-spin-off-plan/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=2020-07-24 |issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The mobile towers business was named Vantage Towers on 24 July 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Dwyer |first=Michael |date=2020-07-24 |title=Vodafone to float European towers division next year |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/07/24/vodafone-float-european-towers-division-next-year/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/07/24/vodafone-float-european-towers-division-next-year/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=2020-07-24 |issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Vantage Towers is headquartered in [[Düsseldorf]], Germany, with towers infrastructure in Germany, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Italy and Ireland comprising a total of 68,000 towers.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vodafone spins off telco tower assets as Vantage Towers |url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/vodafone-spins-telco-tower-assets-vantage-towers/ |access-date=2020-08-01 |website=www.datacenterdynamics.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-24 |title=Vodafone hands London a Brexit blow as it floats business in Frankfurt |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/vodafone-towers-float-germany-a4507336.html |access-date=2020-08-01 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, Vodafone sold its stake in Vodafone Ghana to Telecel Group, and Vodafone Magyarország (Vodafone Hungary) to the Hungarian state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone announces sale of Vodafone Ghana |url=https://www.vodafone.com/news/corporate-and-financial/vodafone-announces-sale-of-vodafone-ghana |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Vodafone.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone to sell Hungarian unit for $1.82bn |url=https://www.financierworldwide.com/vodafone-to-sell-hungarian-unit-for-182bn |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Financier Worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref> Later in June 2023, Vodafone also announced that it intended to merge [[Vodafone UK]] with [[Three UK]], which is owned by [[CK Hutchison Holdings]].<ref name="vodafone.com">{{Cite web |title=Merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK to create one of Europe's leading 5G networks |url=https://www.vodafone.com/news/corporate-and-financial/merger-vodafone-uk-three-uk-europe-leading-5g-networks |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Vodafone.com}}</ref> Vodafone would own 51% of the newly formed company.<ref name="vodafone.com"/> The announcement was criticised by some consumer agencies in the UK, leading to an antitrust inquiry by the [[Competition and Markets Authority]] into whether the newly merged company could substantially lessen competition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-11 |title=UK regulator examining Vodafone-Hutchison's $19 billion mobile merger |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uk-regulator-looking-into-vodafone-hutchisons-19-bln-mobile-tie-up-2023-10-11/ |access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> On 5 December 2024, Vodafone and Three's $19B merger was cleared by UK regulators (with conditions).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawers |first=Paul |date=2024-12-05 |title=Vodafone and Three's $19B merger cleared by UK regulators — with conditions |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/05/vodafone-and-threes-19b-merger-cleared-by-uk-regulators-with-conditions/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2023, Zegona Communications also confirmed that it was in talks to buy [[Vodafone España]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-22 |title=UK's Zegona in talks to buy Vodafone's Spain business |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/zegona-seeks-financing-buy-vodafones-spanish-unit-expansion-2023-09-22/ |access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> On 31 May 2024, Zegona Communications completed the acquisition process, separating from the business from Vodafone Group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-31 |title=Zegona cierra la compra de Vodafone España por 5.000 millones y José Miguel García releva a Mario Vaz como CEO |url=https://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-zegona-cierra-compra-vodafone-espana-5000-millones-jose-miguel-garcia-releva-mario-vaz-ceo-20240531174549.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |publisher=Europa Press}}</ref>

On 15 March 2024, [[Swisscom]] signed a binding purchase proposal to acquire 100% of Vodafone Italia for €8 billion, with the goal of merging it with Fastweb. The transaction was expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025. As part of the agreement, Vodafone will continue to provide certain services to Fastweb, as well as grant the use of its brand for a maximum period of five years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biondi |first=Andrea |date=2024-03-15 |title=Swisscom acquisisce Vodafone Italia, via all'unione con Fastweb |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/swisscom-acquisisce-vodafone-via-alil-unione-fastweb-AFZr9p3C |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Il Sole 24 ORE |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Il marchio Vodafone sparirà in Italia tra cinque anni (al massimo): l'accordo con Fastweb per 8 miliardi |url=https://www.corriere.it/economia/finanza/24_marzo_15/fastweb-compra-vodafone-italia-per-8-miliardi-il-marchio-restera-per-5-anni-al-massimo-86b1dd74-096a-4768-81a6-093d2ddd8xlk.shtml |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Vodafone-Fastweb, c'è il sì alle nozze: Swisscom compra le attività italiane del colosso britannico per 8 miliardi |url=https://www.repubblica.it/economia/finanza/2024/03/15/news/vodafone-fastweb_ce_il_si_alle_nozze_swisscom_compra_le_attivita_italiane_del_colosso_britannico_per_8_miliardi-422313761/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Tlc, parte il risiko. Swisscom compra Vodafone Italia per 8 miliardi e prepara la fusione con Fastweb. Tutti i dettagli |url=https://www.milanofinanza.it/news/tlc-parte-il-risiko-swisscom-compra-vodafone-italia-per-8-miliardi-e-prepara-la-fusione-con-fastweb-tutti-202403150741557027 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MF Milano Finanza |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Swisscom acquisisce Vodafone Italia per creare, attraverso la combinazione con Fastweb, un operatore convergente leader nel Paese |url=https://www.fastweb.it/corporate/media/comunicati-stampa/swisscom-acquisisce-vodafone-italia-per-creare-attraverso-la-combinazione-con-fastweb-un-operatore-convergente-leader-nel-paese/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Fastweb.it |language=it}}</ref>

In September 2024, the [[Competition law|Antitrust]] Authority published a notice of investigation<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicolosi |first=Simone |date=2024-09-17 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia: Antitrust pubblica il provvedimento di avvio istruttoria |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/287434-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-antitrust-pubblica-il-provvedimento-di-avvio-istruttoria/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it |language=it-IT}}</ref> and launched an inquiry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicolosi |first=Simone |date=2024-09-17 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia, indagine Antitrust: i dubbi dei competitor e l'analisi AGCM |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/287447-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-indagine-antitrust-i-dubbi-dei-competitor-e-lanalisi-agcm/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it |language=it-IT}}</ref> Swisscom announced that the [[European Commission]] had approved the acquisition of Vodafone Italia under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicolosi |first=Simone |date=2024-09-24 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia: Swisscom ottiene il via libera dalla Commissione UE |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/287876-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-swisscom-ottiene-il-via-libera-dalla-commissione-ue/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it |language=it-IT}}</ref> The transaction was also approved by [[Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni|AGCOM]] and [[Italian Competition Authority|AGCM]] in November and December 2024, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Mattia |date=2024-11-13 |title=Swisscom, acquisizione di Vodafone Italia: AGCOM autorizza la transazione |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/290625-swisscom-acquisizione-di-vodafone-italia-agcom-autorizza-la-transazione/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stampa |first=Sala |date=2024-12-20 |title=Fusione Fastweb Vodafone Italia: Swisscom ottiene ok dell'Antitrust italiana e del MIMIT |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/293122-fusione-fastweb-vodafone-italia-swisscom-ottiene-ok-dellantitrust-italiana-e-del-mimit/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it |language=it-IT}}</ref>

On 31 December 2024, Swisscom, through Fastweb, completed the acquisition of Vodafone Italia, giving rise to [[Fastweb + Vodafone]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stampa |first=Sala |date=2025-01-02 |title=Fastweb + Vodafone è nata. Swisscom completa l'acquisizione di Vodafone Italia |url=https://www.mondomobileweb.it/293342-fastweb-vodafone-e-nata-swisscom-completa-lacquisizione-di-vodafone-italia/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=MondoMobileWeb.it |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Swisscom completa l'acquisizione di Vodafone Italia |url=https://tg24.sky.it/economia/2025/01/02/swisscom-vodafone-italia |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=tg24.sky.it |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Biondi |first=Andrea |date=2025-01-02 |title=Al via Fastweb + Vodafone: Swisscom completa l'acquisizione di Vodafone Italia |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/al-via-fastweb-vodafone-swisscom-completa-l-acquisizione-vodafone-italia-AGsErb5B |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Il Sole 24 ORE |language=it}}</ref>

===Oceania===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; text-align: center;"
|+ Networks in Oceania
! style="background:#ececec;"|Minority-owned
!rowspan=6|
! style="background:#ececec;" colspan="2"| Partner networks
|-
|[[Vodafone Australia|Australia]]
|Cook Islands
|Fiji
|-
|
|French Polynesia
|Kiribati
|-
|
|New Zealand
|Papua New Guinea
|-
|
|Samoa
|Vanuatu
|}

====Australia====
{{main|Vodafone Australia}}
In October 1993, [[Vodafone Australia]]'s network went live. In December 2004, Vodafone Australia agreed to deploy high-speed [[Multiprotocol Label Switching|MPLS]] network built by [[Lucent#Divisions|Lucent Worldwide Services]] using [[Juniper Networks|Juniper]] hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 December 2004 |title=Vodafone Australia 3G Core Data Network |url=http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/December2004/8758.htm |access-date=8 July 2008 |publisher=3g.co.uk}}</ref> In October 2005, it began launching 3G technology in Australia.<ref name="telecompaper2005" /> On 5 September 2008, Vodafone purchased Australia's largest bricks and mortar mobile phone retailer [[Crazy John's]] adding 115 retail stores to its local operations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guan |first=Lilia |date=6 September 2008 |title=Vodafone buys Crazy John's |url=http://www.itnews.com.au/News/121988,vodafone-buys-crazy-johns.aspx |access-date=8 July 2011 |publisher=Itnews.com.au}}</ref>

On 9 February 2009, Vodafone Australia announced a merger with 3/Hutchison via a joint venture company VHA Pty Ltd, which would offer products under the Vodafone brand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2009 |title=Merger of Vodafone & Hutchison in Australia will strengthen local mobile competition |url=https://www.frost.com/c/10024/sublib/display-market-insight.do?id=159162165 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Frost and Sullivan}}</ref> On 19 June 2009, Vodafone-Hutchison Australia (VHA) announced the end of its outsourcing of retail operations. VHA committed to buying back and managing its entire retail operation, including 208 Vodafone-branded retail outlets Australia-wide. This project was scheduled to be completed by 1 September 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 June 2009 |title=VHA to buy back outsourced Vodafone-branded stores |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vha-to-buy-back-outsourced-vodafonebranded-stores--677312 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref>

On 31 August 2009, VHA enabled an extended 900&nbsp;MHz 3G UMTS network which functions outside their 2,100&nbsp;MHz 3G network, boosting Vodafone's 3G population coverage from around 8% to around 94% on dual-band 900/2,100&nbsp;MHz 3G UMTS devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 September 2009 |title=Vodafone boosts 3G coverage to 94% |url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2009/09/01/vodafone-boosts-3g-coverage-to-94/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Tele Geography |archive-date=18 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618171440/https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2009/09/01/vodafone-boosts-3g-coverage-to-94/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 13 July 2020, VHA merged with [[TPG (ISP)|TPG]] to create [[TPG Telecom Limited]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2020 |title=Implementation of Scheme of Arrangement |url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20200713/pdf/44kgxzt9l1pjs3.pdf |publisher=Australian Securities Exchange}}</ref>

====Fiji====
[[File:Nadi airport - Vodafone office.jpg|thumb|Vodafone shop at [[Nadi Airport]], [[Fiji]]]]
In July 1994, Vodafone Fiji's network went live. In July 2014, Vodafone sold its 49% shareholding of Vodafone Fiji to The Fiji National Provident fund. Under the terms of the deal, Vodafone Fiji retained its branding under a Partner Market Agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acquisition – Vodafone Fiji Becomes 100% Locally-owned |url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2014/07/02/acquisition-vodafone-fiji-becomes-100-locally-owned/ |access-date=23 July 2017 |publisher=Fiji Sun}}</ref>

====New Zealand====
{{main|One NZ}}
[[File:Vodafone Building Near Victoria Park.jpg|thumb|The headquarters of Vodafone New Zealand in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]]]
In July 1993, [[BellSouth]] New Zealand's network went live. In November 1998, Vodafone purchased BellSouth New Zealand, which later became [[One NZ|Vodafone New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2000 |title=Busy signals bountiful at Vodafone |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=108567 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref> In August 2005, Vodafone launched 3G technology in New Zealand.<ref name="telecompaper2005">{{Cite web |date=15 April 2005 |title=Vodafone to start up 3G services in October 2005 |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-to-start-up-3g-services-in-october-2005--467863 |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Telecom Paper}}</ref> On 9 October 2006, Vodafone New Zealand bought New Zealand's 3rd largest [[internet service provider]], [[iHug]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2006 |title=Vodafone buys ihug for $41 million |url=http://www.computerworld.co.nz/article/499916/vodafone_buys_ihug_41_million/ |access-date=14 April 2017 |publisher=Computer World}}</ref> In October 2013, Vodafone began its rollout of [[4G]] to provincial New Zealand, with the launch of the system in holiday hotspots around Coromandel.<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1310/S00882/vodafone-brings-4g-to-coromandel-holiday-hotspots.htm Vodafone brings 4G to Coromandel holiday hotspots | Scoop News]. Scoop.co.nz (24 October 2013). Retrieved on 8 December 2013.</ref>

In 2019, Vodafone sold its New Zealand division to a consortium of investors, making it independent from the parent company. It retained a licensing agreement to continue use of the Vodafone name and logo in exchange for fee payments,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-31 |title=Vodafone Group completes sale of Vodafone New Zealand |url=https://www.vodafone.com/news/press-release/vodafone-group-completes-sale-of-vodafone-new-zealand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213153600/https://www.vodafone.com/news/press-release/vodafone-group-completes-sale-of-vodafone-new-zealand |archive-date=2021-02-13 |access-date=2021-02-03 |website=Vodafone.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-13|title=Vodafone sells New Zealand arm for $2.2bn|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190514-vodafone-sells-new-zealand-arm-22bn|access-date=2021-02-03|website=France 24|language=en}}</ref> up until September 2022 when Vodafone New Zealand announced that it would change its name to One NZ in early 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-28 |title=Vodafone NZ to rebrand as One New Zealand in early 2023 |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2022/09/28/vodafone-nz-to-rebrand-as-one-new-zealand-in-early-2023/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Comms Update}}</ref> It was estimated that this would save the company NZ$20 to 30&nbsp;million a year, by not having to pay Vodafone licensing fees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pullar-Strecker |first=Tom |date=2022-09-27 |title=Vodafone to save millions by changing name to One New Zealand |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130002976/vodafone-to-save-millions-by-changing-name-to-one-new-zealand |access-date=2023-04-27 |work=Stuff NZ |language=en}}</ref> The rebranding was completed in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-03 |title=One NZ CEO on the new rebrand and partnership with Starlink |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-paris-one-nz-ceo-on-the-new-rebrand-and-partnership-with-starlink/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |work=[[Newstalk ZB]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

===<span id="anchor_name"> Vodafone Global Enterprise</span>===
{{main|Vodafone Global Enterprise}}
Vodafone Global Enterprise is the business services division, and a wholly owned [[subsidiary]] of Vodafone Group. It was established in April 2007 to provide [[Telecommunications service|telecommunications]] and [[information technology]] services to large corporations.<ref name="VGE-H-10">{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Global Enterprise profile – LinkedIn |url=http://www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone-global-enterprise |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=LinkedIn}}</ref><ref name="VGE-H-02">{{Cite news |date=18 March 2009 |title=Vodafone Group Plc VOD Launch of Standard Global Ser |publisher=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=agXkMIVqmBGQ |access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="VGE-H-04">{{Cite web |title=Bloomberg Business week – Company Overview of Vodafone Global Enterprise |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=47202685 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116083129/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=47202685 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref>

The division offers integrated communications in [[cloud computing]], [[unified communications]] and [[collaboration]].<ref name=VGE-H-10/><ref name=VGE-H-02/> Its services include domestic and international voice and data, machine-to-machine services, mobile email, mobile broadband, managed services, mobile payment and mobile recording.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Products and solutions by type |url=http://enterprise.vodafone.com/products_solutions/type.jsp |access-date=31 July 2012 |publisher=Vodafone Global Enterprise |archive-date=8 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608180621/http://enterprise.vodafone.com/products_solutions/type.jsp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In December 2011, it acquired the [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]-based Bluefish Communications Ltd, an [[Information and Communication Technology|ICT]] consultancy company.<ref name="VGE-H-11">{{Cite web |date=1 December 2011 |title=Net Knives- Knives Online Company |url=http://netknives.com/ |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=Yahoo!}}</ref> The acquired operations formed the nucleus of a new Unified Communications and Collaboration practice within VGE,<ref name="VGE-H-12" /> working on cloud computing and [[professional services]].<ref name="VGE-H-13">{{Cite web |date=1 December 2011 |title=Vodafone Group's Vodafone Global Enterprise Acquires Bluefish Communications |url=http://www.rttnews.com/1772333/vodafone-group-s-vodafone-global-enterprise-acquires-bluefish-communications.aspx |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=RTT}}</ref>

Vodafone Global Enterprise operates in over 65 countries, with "Northern Europe" (based in London, United Kingdom), "Central Europe", "Southern Europe and Africa", "Asia Pacific & Sub-Saharan Africa" (based in Singapore) and "Americas" geographical divisions.<ref name="VGE-H-01">{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Global Enterprise – Management Team |url=http://enterprise.vodafone.com/discover_global_enterprise/meet_team/ |access-date=9 June 2012 |publisher=Vodafone |archive-date=1 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074652/https://www.vodafone.com/business/home |url-status=dead }}</ref> VGE's major customers include [[Deutsche Post]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2010 |title=Deutsche Post DHL builds wide area network with Vodafone |work=Computer Weekly |url=http://www.computerweekly.com/news/1280092344/Deutsche-Post-DHL-builds-wide-area-network-with-Vodafone |access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> [[The Linde Group]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2011 |title=The Linde Group selects Vodafone to provide global managed mobile services |work=Computer Weekly |url=http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240106414/The-Linde-Group-selects-Vodafone-to-provide-global-managed-mobile-services |access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> [[Unilever]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2010 |title=Unilever chooses Vodafone for mobile management |work=Computer Weekly |url=http://www.computerweekly.com/news/1280094608/Unilever-chooses-Vodafone-for-mobile-management |access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> and [[Volkswagen Group]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 July 2012 |title=VW chooses mobile giant |publisher=This is Staffordshire |url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/VW-chooses-mobile-giant/story-16554126-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116102317/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/VW-chooses-mobile-giant/story-16554126-detail/story.html |archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>

==Products and services==
[[File:Vodafone shop, Lands Lane, Leeds (17th December 2012).JPG|thumb|right|A Vodafone shop selling a range of products in [[Leeds]], England]]
In October 2009, it launched Vodafone 360, a new internet service for the mobile, PC and Mac. This was discontinued in December 2011 after disappointing hardware sales.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Bill |date=18 October 2011 |title=Vodafone turns its back on '360 |work=The Register |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/18/vodafone_kills_360/ |access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> This was after the Director of Internet Services resigned in September 2010 tweeting "5 days before I leave Vodafone. Freedom beckons."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Bill |title=Vodafone's 360-man walks |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/28/vodafone_360_chap/ |access-date=28 September 2012 |website=The Register}}</ref> In February 2010, Vodafone launched the world's cheapest mobile phone known as Vodafone 150, intended to sell for below $15 (£10) in the developing world. It was initially launched in India, Turkey and eight African countries including Lesotho, Kenya and Ghana.<ref name="2005annual">{{Cite news |title=Vodafone launch 'world's cheapest phone' |publisher=BBC |format=stm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8516079.stm |access-date=1 October 2005}}</ref>

===Mobile money transfer services===
In March 2007, [[Safaricom]], which is part owned by Vodafone and the leading mobile communication provider in Kenya, launched mobile payment software developed by Vodafone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Safaricom and Vodafone launch M-PESA, a new mobile payment service |url=http://www.vodafone.com//start//media_relations//news//group_press_releases//2007//safaricom_and_vodafone.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101016111819/http://www.vodafone.com//start//media_relations//news//group_press_releases//2007//safaricom_and_vodafone.html |archive-date=16 October 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}</ref>

By February 2008, the [[M-Pesa|M-PESA]] money transfer system in Kenya had gained 1.6&nbsp;million customers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080213023821/http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_relations/news/group_press_releases/2007/m-pesa_reaches_1_6.html M-PESA Reaches 1.6 Million Customers in 12 Months]</ref> By 2011 there were fourteen million M-Pesa accounts by which held 40 percent of the country's savings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saylor |first=Michael |title=The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything |publisher=Perseus Books/Vanguard Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-1593157203 |page=202; 304}}</ref> Following M-PESA's success in Kenya, Vodafone announced that it was to extend the service to Afghanistan.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216084840/http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_relations/news/group_press_releases/2007/vodafone_and_roshan.html Vodafone and Roshan Launch First Mobile Money Transfer Service in Afghanistan]</ref> The service here was launched on the Roshan network under the brand M-Paisa with a different focus to the Kenyan service. M-Paisa was targeted as a vehicle for [[microfinance]] institutions' (MFI) loan disbursements and repayments, alongside business-to-business applications such as salary disbursement. The Afghanistan launch was followed in April 2008 by the announcement of further a further launch of M-PESA in Tanzania, South Africa<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 September 2010 |title=M-PESA launched in South Africa |url=http://howwemadeitinafrica.com/m-pesa-launched-in-south-africa/3611/}}</ref> and India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 December 2011 |title=HDFC Bank and Vodafone launch Indian M-PESA |work=Banking and Payments Asia |url=http://vrl-financial-news.com/bpa/banking--payments-asia/issues/bpa-2011/bpa-32/hdfc-bank-and-vodafone-launch.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110170518/http://www.vrl-financial-news.com/bpa/banking--payments-asia/issues/bpa-2011/bpa-32/hdfc-bank-and-vodafone-launch.aspx |archive-date=10 January 2012}}</ref>

In February 2012, Vodafone announced a worldwide partnership with [[Visa Inc.|Visa]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sarah |first=Clark |date=27 February 2012 |title=Vodafone to roll out mobile payments with Visa |work=NFC World |url=http://www.nfcworld.com/2012/02/27/313899/vodafone-to-roll-out-mobile-payments-with-visa/ |access-date=28 September 2012}}</ref>

===Health services===
In November 2009, Vodafone announced the creation of a new business unit focused on the emerging market (the application of mobile communications and network technologies to healthcare).<ref>[http://mobihealthnews.com/5615/vodafone-not-when-but-how-for-wireless-health/ Vodafone: Not when but how for wireless health] Mobihealthnews, 1 December 2009</ref> One of its early success stories is with the [[Novartis]]-led "SMS for Life" project in Tanzania, for which Vodafone developed and deployed a text-message based system that enables all of the country's 4,600 public health facilities to report their levels of [[Antimalarial medication|anti-malarial medications]] so that stock level data can be viewed centrally in real-time, enabling timely re-supply of stock. During the SMS for Life pilot, which covered 129 health facilities over six months, stock-outs dropped from 26% to 0.8%, saving thousands of lives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SMS for life: Tanzania Pilot Project Report |url=http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/docs/SMSsummaryReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116083133/http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/docs/SMSsummaryReport.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>

===Vodafone Foundation===
'''Vodafone Foundation'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Foundation - Charity 1193984 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5177042 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=[[Charity Commission for England and Wales]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> is a recognised charity which supports and initiates projects which use mobile technology to benefit the vulnerable, using the slogan "Connecting for Good".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Foundation |url=http://www.vodafone.com/content/foundation.html |access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> They often work in collaboration with other charitable groups. Below are some examples of their initiatives:
* [[DreamLab]], a [[volunteer computing]] mobile app developed in cooperation with [[Imperial College London]] and used to research on [[cancer]], [[COVID-19]], and other diseases
* TECSOS{{snd}} mobile phones have been adapted to allow victims of domestic violence to activate immediate contact with the emergency services if they are in danger
* Paediatric Epilepsy Remote Monitoring System{{snd}} a monitoring system that allows physicians to remotely make patient observations
* Safe Taxi System{{snd}} an initiative in Portugal that consists of technology that taxi drivers can use to alert police if they are in danger of being assaulted
* Learning with Vodafone Solution{{snd}} technology that allows teachers in India to use graphical and multi-media content to enhance their teaching
* The World of Difference programme{{snd}} successful applicants choose charities for which they work either full-time for two months or part-time for four months (minimum 15 hours a week). The charities are provided with £2,500, with each winner receiving the balance as a salary after NI and tax have been paid.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2011 |title=500 people win a place on the Vodafone World of Difference programme |url=https://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/public/documents/webcontent/25_01_11_pr.pdf |access-date=13 December 2016 |publisher=Vodafone UK}}</ref>

==Advertising==
Since 2021, Vodafone's global advertising has used the slogan "Together We Can". Previous slogans have been, in 2017, "The future is exciting. Ready?" and, in 2009, was "Power to You".<ref>{{Cite news |last=King |first=Ian |date=5 October 2017 |title=Is Vodafone's new ad campaign a little too clever? |language=en-GB |work=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/is-vodafones-new-ad-campaign-a-little-too-clever-11067742 |access-date=18 November 2018}}</ref>

== Sponsorships ==
Vodafone's sponsorships include:

*[[S.L. Benfica]] (1996–2005)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Benfica renova contrato com Telecel |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/benfica/detalhe/benfica-renova-contrato-com-telecel|date=12 May 2000|newspaper=Record|access-date=4 December 2024}}</ref>
* [[Manchester United F.C.]] (2000–06)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Jamie |date=2021-03-08 |title=Man Utd in talks over new £70m a season shirt sponsor |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/man-utd-in-70m-a-season-talks-over-new-shirt-sponsor |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=90min.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Scuderia Ferrari]] (2002–06)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ferrari Join Forces with Vodafone |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ferrari-join-forces-with-vodafone-5056945/5056945/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Autosport |date=25 May 2001 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Al Ahly SC]] (2002–17)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-19 |title=Vodafone activates Al Ahly sponsorship and reveals who is #1 (‫#‏رقم1) |url=https://thinkmarketingmagazine.com/vodafone-activates-al-ahly-sponsorship-release-number1/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Think Marketing |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Olympiacos F.C.]] (2006–09)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympiacos Piraeus Kit History |url=https://www.footballkitarchive.com/olympiacos-piraeus-kits/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Football Kit Archive |language=en}}</ref>
* [[McLaren]] (2007–13)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vodafone to end McLaren sponsorship deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-racing-vodafone-idUKBRE92D0CH20130314 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Reuters|date=14 March 2013 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Beşiktaş J.K.]] (2014–20)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-23 |title=Beşiktaş yeni sezon formalarını tanıttı |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/spor/besiktas-yeni-sezon-formalarini-tanitti/138809 |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>
* [[Borussia Dortmund]] (2025–present)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vodafone signs sponsorship deal for 5 seasons with Borussia Dortmund |url=https://newsroom.vodafone.de/vodafone-wird-neuer-hauptsponsor-von-borussia-dortmund |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Vodafone Germany|date=26 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Corporate affairs==

===Senior management===
[[Gerry Whent|Sir Gerald Whent]], at that time an Executive with Racal Electronics plc, was responsible for the bid for a UK Cellular Network licence. The Mobile Telecoms division was de-merged, and was floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in October 1988 and Sir Gerald became Chief Executive of Racal Telecom plc. Over the next few years the company grew to become the UK's market leader, changing its name to Vodafone Group plc in the process.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cowe |first=Roger |date=29 May 2002 |title=Sir Gerald Whent |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/may/29/guardianobituaries.rogercowe |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref>

[[Chris Gent|Sir Christopher Gent]] took over as Chief Executive in January 1997, after Sir Gerald's retirement. Gent was responsible for transforming Vodafone from a small UK operator into the global operator, through the merger with the American AirTouch and the takeover of Germany's Mannesmann.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 February 2003 |title=Sir Christopher's biggest regret |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2843598/Sir-Christophers-biggest-regret.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2843598/Sir-Christophers-biggest-regret.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2017 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[Arun Sarin]] was the driving force behind the company's move into emerging markets such as Asia and Africa, through the purchases such as that of Turkish operator Telsim, and a majority stake in Hutchison Essar in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arun Sarin conferred Honorary knighthood |date=5 February 2010 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business/arun-sarin-conferred-honorary-knighthood/story-AV2br4Hh4ir4I3LmaSCyAM.html |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref>

The fourth CEO, [[Vittorio Colao]], stepped up from Deputy Chief Executive in July 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wearden |first=Graeme |date=27 May 2008 |title=Vittorio Colao: from Brescia to the top of Vodafone |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/may/27/vodafonegroup.mobilephones |access-date=14 April 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Chief Executive||Tenure
|-
|1
|[[Gerry Whent|Sir Gerald Whent]]||October 1988 – December 1996
|-
|2
|[[Chris Gent|Sir Christopher Gent]]||January 1997 – July 2003
|-
|3
|[[Arun Sarin]]||July 2003 – July 2008
|-
|4
|[[Vittorio Colao]]||July 2008 – September 2018
|-
|5
|[[Nick Read]]||October 2018 – December 2022
|-
|6
|[[Margherita Della Valle]] 
|January 2023 – present<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/vodafone-chief-executive-nick-read-to-resign-names-margherita-della-valle-interim-chief|title=Vodafone Chief Executive Nick Read To Resign; Names Margherita Della Valle Interim Chief Executive|date=5 December 2022|newspaper=RTT News|access-date=5 December 2022}}</ref>
|}

===Financial results===
Vodafone reports its results in accordance with [[International Financial Reporting Standards]] (IFRS). Financial performance has been as follows:<ref name=results/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year ended 31 March||Turnover €m||Profit before tax €m||Profit for the year €m||Basic [[earnings per share|eps]] (cents)
|-
|2025||37,448||(1,478)||(3,746)||(15.86)
|-
|2024||36,717||1,620||1,505||4.45
|-
|2023||45,706||12,816||12,335||42.77
|-
|2022||45,580||3,954||2,624||7.20
|-
|2021||43,809||4,400||536||0.38
|-
|2020||44,974||795||(455)||(3.13)
|-
|2019||43,666||(2,613)||(7,644)||(16.25)
|-
|2018||46,571||3,878||2,788||15.87
|-
|2017||47,631||2,792||(6,079)||(7.83)
|-
|2016||49,810||(190)||(5,122)||(20.27)
|-
|2015||48,385||1,734||7,477||28.72
|}

==Criticisms==
[[File:UK Uncut protest outside Vodafone, Church Street, Liverpool.jpeg|thumb|alt=Protestors outside Vodafone shop.|[[UK Uncut]] protestors outside a Vodafone shop in [[Liverpool]]]]

===Tax avoidance===
In September 2010, an investigation by ''[[Private Eye]]'' magazine revealed certain details of Vodafone's tax avoidance activities. It was reported that Vodafone routed the acquisition of [[Mannesmann]] through a Luxembourg subsidiary, set up to avoid paying tax on the deal, and continued to place its profits in Luxembourg. Following a long legal struggle with [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]] (during which a senior HMRC official, John Connors, switched sides to become head of tax at Vodafone), it was eventually agreed that Vodafone would pay £1.25&nbsp;billion related to the acquisition. Based on Vodafone's accounts, experts have estimated the potential tax bill written off as a result of the negotiations was over £6&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BRITAIN'S £6BN VODAFONE BILL |work=Private Eye |url=http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=in_the_back&issue=1273 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027221207/http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=in_the_back&issue=1273 |archive-date=27 October 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The news of this legal [[tax avoidance]] sparked angry protests, beginning in October 2010, outside Vodafone shops across the UK, organised under the banner of [[UK Uncut]]. The protests caused the closure of various stores across the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 June 2014 |title=UK Uncut protesters blockade Vodafone stores across country |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/14/uk-uncut-vodafone |website=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref>

In 2011, ''Private Eye'' magazine and The [[Bureau of Investigative Journalism]] alleged that Vodafone's Swiss branches were run by a single part-time bookkeeper. The report claimed hardly any business was done from there, indicating that the main purpose of the Zug office was tax avoidance. The report claimed the money was borrowed from the Swiss branch of the Luxembourg company, allowing it to take advantage of Luxembourg's laws, which exempts foreign branches of companies from tax, and Swiss laws, which almost completely exempt local branches of foreign companies. According to the expose, this would have otherwise generated a British tax bill of a little over £2&nbsp;billion. It said Vodafone publishes a single, combined set of accounts for its Luxembourg subsidiaries and their Swiss branches. For the one company, profits worth £1.6&nbsp;billion were taxed at less than 1% in 2011, and the profits are likely to have been attributed to Switzerland. In its response to these allegations, Vodafone has said the Swiss branch has not been involved in Vodafone's global financing for a number of years. It is, therefore, irrelevant in respect to global financing arrangements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone: Undercover investigation exposes Swiss branches: TBIJ |url=http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/03/06/vodafone-undercover-investigation-exposes-swiss-branches/ |access-date=15 May 2012 |publisher=Thebureauinvestigates.com |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106161736/https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/03/06/vodafone-undercover-investigation-exposes-swiss-branches/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Vodafone was also assessed a US$2.5&nbsp;billion tax over its acquisition of [[Hutchison Whampoa]]'s Indian assets in 2007, a demand that it contests. In January 2012, the highest Indian court ruled that Vodafone is not liable for taxes and penalties of up to £2.8&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 2012 |title=Vodafone not liable for up to $4.4bn of India penalties |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16646347 |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 October 2010 |title=Vodafone given $2.5bn Indian tax bill deadline |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11606192 |access-date=31 March 2011}}</ref> However, in February 2016 India's tax department sent Vodafone a renewed tax notice of £1.4bn. Following the siding of the Indian court with Vodafone in 2012, the government changed the law to allow firms to be retrospectively taxed.<ref>{{Cite news |title=India sends renewed £1.4bn tax notice to Vodafone |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 February 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35584980 |access-date=27 March 2016 }}</ref> In September 2020, an international arbitration tribunal sided with Vodafone and ruled that India's efforts to claim past taxes was in violation of fair treatment under the bilateral investment protection pact between India and the Netherlands. India was asked by the tribunal to stop its efforts to claim the tax dues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone Scores a Victory in $3 Billion Tax Dispute With India |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/vodafone-scores-a-victory-in-243-billion-tax-dispute-with-india/ar-BB19pRCO |access-date=2020-09-25 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref>

===Communications blackout during the Arab Spring===
Vodafone was implicated in the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in [[2011 Egyptian revolution|Egypt's 2011 demonstrations]]. On 27 January, Vodafone, responsible for much of Egypt's telecommunication infrastructure, shut off all voice and data services for Egyptian citizens and businesses at the request of the Egyptian Government under [[Hosni Mubarak]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 January 2011 |title=Egypt Internet users report major network disruptions |work=Reuters |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE70Q2P220110127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131092345/http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE70Q2P220110127|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 January 2011}}</ref> On 28 January 2011, Vodafone complied with Egyptian government instructions to suspend Internet service "in selected areas" during a period of [[2011 Egyptian revolution|anti-Mubarak protests]]. The company issued a statement that "Under Egyptian legislation, the authorities have the right to issue such an order and we are obliged to comply with it."<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2011 |title=Vodafone CEO Explains Egypt Phone Cutoff |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/01/28/vodafone-ceo-explains-egypt-phone-cutoff/}}</ref> 

Vodafone also received public and media criticism for allowing the authorities to send mass pro-government messages via SMS over their network during the protests. One such message requested that "honest and loyal men" should "confront the traitors and criminals". Vodafone later issued a statement asserting that they had no choice but to allow the messages to be broadcast, and that they had complained to the Egyptian authorities about the practice.<ref>{{Cite news |first=R.G. |last=Salter |date=1 March 2011 |title=Vodafone: Egypt forced us to send text messages |publisher=Yahoo News |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2dmeBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA271 |isbn=9781466641983}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' of the UK reported, "The Egyptian government's action is unprecedented in the history of the internet."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Christopher |date=28 January 2011 |title=How Egypt shut down the internet |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8288163/How-Egypt-shut-down-the-internet.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/8288163/How-Egypt-shut-down-the-internet.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> US-based Internet intelligence firm Renesys stated, "in an action unprecedented in Internet history, the Egyptian government appears to have ordered service providers to shut down all international connections to the Internet."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/01/egypt-leaves-the-internet.shtml |title=Egypt Leaves the Internet |last=Cowie |first=James |date=27 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128080518/http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/01/egypt-leaves-the-internet.shtml |archive-date=28 January 2011 |url-status=dead |website=Renesys.com |access-date=8 July 2011}}</ref> Vodafone Group CEO Vittorio Colao said the company was obliged by law to comply with the instructions of the Egyptian government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2011 |title=Egypt's Web, Mobile Communications Severed |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703956604576109661160604954}}</ref> At the company's annual general meeting, on 26 June, the campaign groups Access and [[FairPensions]] asked Vodafone to endorse a plan to prevent the company facing similar demands in the future.<ref>Financial Times, 25 July 2011, Andrew Parker, [https://www.ft.com/content/3316685a-b6d8-11e0-a8b8-00144feabdc0 "Vodafone faces pressure over Egypt protests"]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Tess |date=28 July 2011 |title=Shedding light on Vodafone's digital darkness |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2011/07/vodafone-egypt-telecoms |access-date=18 January 2017 |website=New Statesman |language=en}}</ref>

===Poor customer service===
In Australia, particularly towards the end of 2010, Vodafone was heavily criticised due to allegations of poor customer service and severe technical inadequacies, which earned them their nickname "Vodafail"{{snd}} a website of the same name still exists.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moses |first=Asher |title=Vodafone customers seething over dropped calls, slow data |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/vodafone-customers-seething-over-dropped-calls-slow-data-20101210-18sev.html |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref> In response, they have developed a "new" network, and now provide a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Network guarantee – Vodafone Australia |url=http://www.vodafone.com.au/aboutvodafone/network/network-guarantee?pid=v:pers:home:networks-guarantee:link:find-out-more |access-date=11 December 2012 |publisher=Vodafone.com.au}}</ref>

In 2019, Vodafone was rated as the UK's worst mobile network provider for the eighth year in a row, in the eighth annual survey by consumer lobby group ''[[Which?]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 April 2019 |title=Which? survey reveals customers' least favourite mobile network |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48020470 |access-date=24 April 2019 |website=[[BBC News]] }}</ref>

===Unlimited roaming costs on stolen phones===
Vodafone UK, in common with other operators, has been criticised for holding customers on regular monthly billed contracts liable for almost unlimited [[roaming]] costs when their phones are stolen abroad, despite being seemingly able to limit costs of pay-as-you-go contracts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brignall |first=Miles |title=Vodafone customer's £15,000 billing nightmare after mobile phone theft |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/17/vodafone-customer-billing-nightmare-mobile-theft |access-date=21 March 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 October 2014 }}</ref>

===Breaches of consumer protection rules===
In October 2016, Vodafone was fined a record £4.6m by [[Ofcom]] for "serious" breaches of consumer protection rules.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 October 2016 |title=Vodafone fined £4.6m by Ofcom for breaking customer rules |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37772118 |access-date=18 January 2017}}</ref>

In October 2017, [[Citizens Advice]] undertook a mystery shopping exercise which found that Vodafone, along with [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]] and [[3 (company)|Three]], were not reducing customers' bills after fixed deals finished which meant that they were paying an extra £22 a month on average.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 June 2017 |title=Mobile phone networks overcharging loyal customers by up to £38 a month – Home |url=https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cymraeg/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/media/press-releases/mobile-phone-networks-overcharging-loyal-customers-by-up-to-38-a-month/ |access-date=15 January 2018 |publisher=Citizensadvice.org.uk |archive-date=1 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074847/https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cymraeg/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/media/press-releases/mobile-phone-networks-overcharging-loyal-customers-by-up-to-38-a-month/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Surveillance infrastructure===
In June 2014, Vodafone revealed information about their and other telecommunication operators' 'direct access systems', content data and [[metadata]] interception programmes globally.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Garside |first=Juliette |date=6 June 2014 |title=Vodafone reveals existence of secret wires that allow state surveillance |agency=Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/06/vodafone-reveals-secret-wires-allowing-state-surveillance |access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>

=== Scam investigation ===
In March 2019, the Indian investigation agency [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] filed a plea in the [[Supreme Court of India]] against Vodafone and [[Bharti Airtel|Airtel]] alleging non cooperation in the [[Saradha Group financial scandal|Saradha chitfund scam]]. The court listed the matter for a hearing on 8 April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-29 |title=Saradha case: Supreme Court seeks reply from Vodafone, Airtel on CBI plea |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/saradha-case-supreme-court-seeks-reply-from-vodafone-airtel-on-cbi-plea-1553843206214.html |access-date=2019-03-29 |website=Mint |language=en}}</ref>

=== Return to office mandate ===
In March 2025, it was reported that Vodafone would require all UK-based head office staff to attend the office two to three days per week, or at least eight days per month. Failure to comply would result in disciplinary proceedings and a final written warning being issued, which would mean individuals would not be eligible for a [[Bonus payment|bonus]] in that [[Fiscal year|financial year]]. It was reported that colleagues struggled to find sufficient rooms to have in-person meetings, and would spend time in the office on video calls with people in other offices around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kunert |first=Paul |date=2025-03-10 |title=Vodafone: Be in the office 8 days a month or lose bonuses |url=https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/10/vodafone_be_in_the_office_memo/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=The Register}}</ref>

== Brand identity ==
<gallery>
File:Vodafone 1984 logo.svg|1991–1997
File:Vodafone logo 1997.png|1997–2006
File:Vodafone logo 2017.png|2017–present
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of mobile network operators]]
* [[List of mobile network operators of Europe]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline}}
* {{Official website}}
{{Finance links
| name    = Vodafone Group Plc
| symbol  = VOD
| sec_cik = 839923
| yahoo   = VOD
| google  = VOD
}}
* {{OpenCorp}}

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[[Category:Vodafone| ]]
[[Category:Mobile phone companies of the United Kingdom]]
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