Vodafone has surpassed 200 million Internet of Things (IoT) connections, marking a significant milestone with a connected heart monitor that allows doctors to remotely track patients’ cardiac health and vital signs. This achievement more than doubles its IoT connections from five years ago, underscoring the company’s growing role in the connected device ecosystem.
The journey began in 2009 with Vodafone’s first IoT-enabled device, a navigation unit for cars. Since then, Germany has emerged as a key hub, housing over a quarter of the company’s current IoT devices. Vodafone attributes this rapid expansion to a global push by businesses and public institutions to leverage connected technology for improved efficiency, asset tracking, and data collection.
The telecom giant highlights real-world applications such as monitoring coal transport across South African mines and using IoT for detecting water leaks and forest fires in Europe. According to Vodafone, the increasing integration of IoT is enabling real-time communication between devices and shaping what it calls an “Economy of Things,” where connected objects can securely interact and transact.
Marika Auramo, CEO of Vodafone Business, emphasized the company’s global reach, supporting operations in over 180 countries. Erik Brenneis, who leads Vodafone IoT, described the 200 million milestone as a testament to the team’s innovation and foresaw even greater growth ahead.
Vodafone also points to the environmental benefits of IoT, claiming that over half its connections help reduce emissions through smart monitoring of energy use and traffic flow. Additionally, its new iSIM technology, integrating the SIM directly into a device’s chipset, aims to streamline mass deployments. An AI-powered anomaly detection tool, introduced last year, further enhances the IoT network by identifying issues swiftly through machine learning.
