Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2025 39
Strategic report
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Empowering People
Digital inclusion Getting online is a part of everyday life. It is key to unlocking the opportunities of the digital world. Globally, 3 billion people use mobile connectivity to access financial services, alleviating poverty and fostering economic prosperity. There are 2.4 billion people accessing educational content, with 2.3 billion people using mobile to access vital healthcare services and resources 3 . Our strategy focuses on three key aims: closing the digital divide by increasing mobile broadband coverage and improving access to devices and data, empowering customers through the digitalisation of key services, and supporting vulnerable communities through the Vodafone Foundation. Click to read more at: vodafone.com/foundation Reducing the coverage gap Whilst 83% of people living in towns and cities are using the internet, just 48% of those in rural areas do so 4 . The gap is even more pronounced between Europe and Africa: 86% of Europeans living in rural areas are online, whereas in remote and rural Africa, just 23% have internet access 5 . We recognise the importance of expanding our mobile broadband networks into rural regions. We continue to invest in technology to expand networks and address challenges that limit access to remote areas, where difficult terrain and dispersed populations often make network deployment challenging for a single mobile network operator. The use of network sharing is one strategy considered to extend 4G and 5G coverage. An example of this is the Shared Rural Network in UK, a collaboration between the industry and government, with the aim to provide 4G coverage to 95% of the UK land mass by 2025–26, benefiting an additional 280,000 premises and
16,000km of roads. By November 2024, all four UK mobile network operators had met their June 2024 targets, and the goal of covering 95% of the UK was achieved a year ahead of schedule. In Germany, where Vodafone already covers more than 99% of the population with 4G, Vodafone has 4G active sharing agreements with Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom to remove rural ‘grey spots’, areas where only one provider offers mobile network access. To further enhance mobile coverage, the German regulator has imposed coverage obligations to the Mobile Network Operators (‘MNOs’) to address so called ‘white spots’, i.e. rural areas with no mobile coverage, by establishing passive sharing agreements. Another coverage obligation is set to cover railways and streets, where technical realisation is shared jointly among the MNOs. Finally, in Romania, Vodafone and Orange have a sharing agreement to increase 4G coverage, including ‘white spot’ areas. Furthermore, in Romania, Vodafone and Orange are piloting a common Open RAN network (shared RAN) in certain rural areas. This year we have increased 5G network coverage in Europe, to cover 75% of the population and 4G coverage in Africa, to an additional 2% (see FY25 network deployment table on page 40 ). We continue to expand our Gigabit fixed broadband coverage for the benefit of our customers and our ambition also aligns with the European Commission’s 1Gbps target for 2030. We are achieving this expanded Gigabit coverage via three approaches: enhancements to our own Fibre to the Home (‘FTTH’) and cable networks, working with our Joint Venture (‘JV’) partners such as OXG in Germany, SIRO in Ireland and Fiber2All in Greece, and new FTTH wholesale partnerships, such as with Deutsche Glasfaser and Deutsche Telekom in Germany.
In March 2022, we joined the UN Partner2Connect digital coalition and pledged to bring 4G to an additional 70 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. This targeted intervention includes four of the least developed countries – Mozambique, Tanzania, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (‘DRC’), and will help to close a particular gap in internet usage between urban and rural communities. Since March 2022, we have added 4G technology to 3,930 sites across these countries, providing 4G access to millions more people in Africa 6 . Closing the coverage gap requires bold, innovative solutions beyond increasing terrestrial networks. One key opportunity lies in the convergence of the satellite and mobile industries. By deploying Low Earth Orbit (‘LEO’) satellites, we can deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to both unserved and underserved communities, unlocking access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities. In January 2025, we completed the world’s first space video call using normal 4G/5G smartphones and satellites. Adoption of this will allow multiple users in areas of no mobile coverage to make and receive video calls, access the internet and use online messaging services. It is the only satellite technology of its kind built to offer a full mobile broadband experience and paves the way for universal digital connectivity and the closure of mobile coverage gaps.
Globally, approximately 4.6 billion people access the internet daily through mobile broadband networks, representing around 57% of the world’s population. Despite this, 2.6 billion people remain entirely unconnected, of which 1.8 billion people are living in rural areas 1 . We seek to democratise access to the internet and help get everyone connected regardless of who they are or where they live, to build universal access and help our customers and communities benefit from digitalisation.
76% 4G population coverage (outdoor 1Mbps) in Africa 75% 5G population coverage (outdoor 1Mbps) in Europe 2
Notes: 1. ITU, 2024. 2. Continuing operations only. 3. GSMA, 2024. 4. ITU, 2024. 5. Statista, 2024. 6. Cumulative figure from 31 March 2022 to 31 March 2025.
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