Telecommunications giant, Vodafone, sealed a billion-pound agreement with Google to enhance its AI and cloud services for customers. The British telecommunications company announced a 10-year partnership to utilize Google Cloud's cutting-edge AI technology on its TV set top boxes, as well as creating machine learning models and AI applications using Google Cloud's Vertex platform with the help of Google's Gemini models.

The agreement will also involve creating a new cybersecurity service that is cloud-native and utilizes Google Cloud’s Security Operations platform, in addition to providing customers with Google cloud storage choices.

The agreement signifies an enhancement in Vodafone's collaboration with Google, as the tech giant already offers analytics and marketing services through its Android operating system for the company's set top boxes. A $1.5bn agreement was made with Microsoft earlier this year, leading Vodafone to relinquish its European data centers and opt for Azure cloud services.

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group chief executive, said: “Together, Vodafone and Google will put new AI-powered content and devices into the hands of millions of more consumers. Using these services, our customers can discover new ways to learn, create and communicate, as well as consume TV, on a scale we haven’t seen before.”

“Our expanded partnership with Vodafone will help bring our most advanced AI products and services, including our Gemini models, to more people across Europe and Africa,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.