Vodacom Group has entered a major collaboration with Google Cloud to fast-track its digital transformation and roll out next-generation AI-powered services across Africa. The pan-African telecom giant will integrate Google Cloud’s data analytics and generative AI stack — including Gemini, Veo, and Imagen — to modernize its infrastructure and develop new digital products for consumers and enterprises.

The partnership centers on using Google Cloud’s scalable infrastructure to unify Vodacom’s extensive data landscape. By consolidating critical data platforms onto Google Cloud’s data cloud and BigQuery, Vodacom aims to achieve real-time insights, stronger governance, and a single source of truth to support large-scale AI deployments.

“This collaboration is more than a technology upgrade; it is a deep commitment to Africa’s digital revolution,” said Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom. He added that the move will help deliver AI-powered services that address the continent’s unique challenges and unlock new opportunities for millions of users.

Maureen Costello, VP for UKI and SSA at Google Cloud, said the company is "proud to support Vodacom in accelerating AI across Africa," emphasizing the value of generative AI models like Gemini in enabling new capabilities and services.

A Three-Pillar Strategy to Build Africa’s AI Future

1. Data Modernization & Unification
Vodacom will migrate its data systems to Google Cloud, integrating BigQuery to improve analytics, governance, and speed — essential for deploying advanced AI models at scale.

2. Accelerated AI Adoption
Using Vertex AI and Gemini, Vodacom will embed AI across its operations. Early focus areas include network optimization, personalized customer service, fraud detection, and automated support.

3. Product Innovation for the African Market
The collaboration will also fuel new fintech solutions to drive financial inclusion, enterprise-grade digital services, and enhanced consumer experiences in content access and education.

The initiative builds on the existing partnership between Vodafone (Vodacom’s parent company) and Google Cloud, reinforcing a shared push to expand secure, scalable AI innovation globally.