Vodafone has formed a collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s technology giant, Mobily, aimed at expanding its IoT coverage in the Middle East. This strategic partnership allows Vodafone customers to utilize Mobily’s national cellular IoT network via embedded SIMs, branded as ‘Vodafone Global SIM.’
Vodafone Business stands as a leader in managed IoT services through numerous industry evaluations. The company boasts over 175 million IoT connections in 175 countries worldwide. Its expansive low-power wide-area (LPWA) network offers NB-IoT and LTE-M coverage in 92 countries, leveraging both its infrastructure and roaming partnerships like Mobily.
In April 2024, Vodafone launched Vodafone IoT as an independent entity, driven by a collaborative initiative with Microsoft to separate its services. This restructuring aimed to exploit cloud technology for its national telecom business, integrating Microsoft’s resources.
Nevertheless, there exists potential confusion in Vodafone’s branding as it uses both Vodafone Business IoT and Vodafone IoT interchangeably. Now, Vodafone IoT efficiently manages global services, while Vodafone Business, its enterprise division, markets them. These services include private networks, edge/cloud solutions, and SD-WAN services.
The alliance with Mobily offers Vodafone Business an extended market in the Middle East, promoting their cellular-connected solutions to enterprises. Last year, Erik Brenneis, the CEO at Vodafone IoT, received recognition for their managed IoT services. He stated, “We are now ready to hyperscale IoT. We are bringing together partners, investors and technology to create the IoT eco-system for the next decade.”
Brenneis highlighted Mobily partnership as expanding Vodafone’s reach in the Middle East, enhancing IoT connectivity services in Saudi Arabia with “reliable, secure, and compliant cross-border IoT connectivity.”
On the other hand, Salman Al-Badran, Mobily’s CEO, emphasized Mobily’s commitment to regional digital transformation and sustainable growth. He noted that their agreement with Vodafone would generate opportunities in advanced technology solutions for both private and government sectors, fostering investment prospects.
