Vodafone and Microsoft Enter 10-Year Strategic Partnership; Ocado Hits One Million Customers

Vodafone to invest $1.5 billion in cloud and AI services, while Microsoft will use Vodafone's connectivity services and invest in its IoT platform. Meanwhile, UK unemployment remains at 4.2%.

Vodafone and Microsoft have entered into a 10-year strategic partnership, with Vodafone investing $1.5 billion over the next decade in cloud and customer-focused AI services developed with Microsoft.
Microsoft will use Vodafone's fixed and mobile connectivity services and invest in Vodafone's managed IoT connectivity platform, which will become a standalone business by April 2024.
Vodafone will overhaul its global data center cloud strategy, replacing multiple physical data centers with virtual ones across Europe, simplifying and reducing the operational costs of its IT estate.
Vodafone's grocery delivery firm, Ocado Retail, crossed the one million customer mark after record sales in December, with retail revenue reaching £609.4 million in the fourth quarter.
The UK unemployment rate remained at 4.2%, with wage growth slowing to 6.6%, moving further away from the record highs hit last year.