Expanding mobile broadband coverage
For many people, mobile connectivity is a vital link to the digital world, offering financial possibilities, education opportunities and healthcare resources. But 2.6 billion people are still unconnected, and large parts of the world have limited access. We aim to use innovations, partnerships, and a blend of technologies across land, sea and space to overcome obstacles to connectivity and reach underserved and unserved areas.
Even where coverage is available, certain groups need help overcoming access barriers, such as device and data affordability, digital literacy and skills. We’re addressing these issues with initiatives such as digital training for teachers and students, and Instant Network Schools in refugee communities.
Goals and achievements
In FY25, we reached our financial inclusion target of connecting 75 million customers to financial inclusion services by 2026, one year early. These efforts are helping customers, their families, and communities build economic prosperity.
We aim to increase smartphone penetration in our African markets by making them more accessible and affordable, and introducing financing options.
Increasing coverage
In FY25, we increased our 5G network in Europe to cover 75% of the population, and extended 4G coverage in Africa to reach 76%.
| Sites deployed (000s) | Population coverage (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 4G Africa1 | 35,753 | 76 |
| 4G Türkiye1 | 28,015 | 97 |
| 5G Europe1 | 41,050 | 75 |
- Outdoor 1Mbps
Vodafone Greece connects to the India-Europe-Xpress cable system
Vodafone has landed the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) cable in Tympaki, Crete offering an alternative to existing connectivity paths. The cable is at a new landing station in the South of the island, away from northern Crete where most Mediterranean subsea cables have been concentrated. The new station will also provide increased capacity and resilience to the island's infrastructure and will be accessible for other projects and providers. This will expand Crete’s connection to various global locations and attract investment to the region.
2Africa subsea cable system reaches three continents
Vodafone is a member of the 2Africa Consortium, a group of international partners developing the world’s largest subsea cable system. With a capacity of up to 180 terabits per second, 2Africa will be the first system to provide continuous capacity around the African continent, and it will connect 33 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. When completed, the cable will be over 45,000 kilometres long – able to stretch around the Earth’s circumference.
Vodafone makes world’s first space-based video call
Vodafone has successfully made the world’s first space video call using normal 4G/5G smartphones and satellites. This will allow multiple users in areas of no mobile coverage to make and receive video calls, access the internet, and use online messaging services. It is the only satellite technology of its kind built to offer a full mobile broadband experience. In doing so, it paves the way for universal digital connectivity and the closure of mobile coverage gaps.
What we’re doing
We’re committed to expanding coverage to empower individuals to benefit from the digital society, leaving no one behind.
Only 48% of people in rural areas use the internet compared to 83% of those in towns and cities. This falls to 23% in remote and rural Africa. Difficult terrain and dispersed populations often hinder network deployment, but we continue to invest in technology to overcome these barriers.
We’re advancing our goal of bringing 4G to an additional 70 million people in sub-Saharan Africa – as part of our commitment to the UN Partner2Connect digital coalition. Since March 2022, we’ve reached 13.8 million more people.
Understanding challenges to universal smartphone access
Smartphone ownership is the lowest in emerging markets.
Only 45% of adults in emerging markets own a smartphone, compared to 76% in advanced economies.
Smartphones can cost over 70% of the average income in less-developed countries, making them less affordable.
Women are less likely to own a smartphone than men.
How we are increasing smartphone access in Africa
The cost of smartphones remains an obstacle to people getting online. Phones are increasingly the main gateway to digital services, but only 62% of Vodacom’s customers have access to one. With entry-level phones in Sub-Saharan Africa costing 99% of average monthly income for the poorest 20%, lowering the price of devices is key to bridging the digital divide.
Access for all
We offer entry-level 4G devices to address the affordability challenge. This year, we introduced a new cloud-based phone that comes with popular applications such as YouTube, TikTok and Facebook as standard, all accessed via cloud at an affordable cost.
Connectivity made affordable
We offer device finance schemes to enable customers to purchase a smartphone with a one-off deposit, completing the payment through affordable monthly payments.
In Mozambique, Vodacom is the first telco to launch a device financing scheme. Pouko Pouko allows customers to pay 12% and use the phone immediately. They can choose to make payments daily, weekly or monthly, up to 12 months. The model increases access to M-Pesa and mobile wallet services promoting digital and financial inclusion. By December 2024, Vodacom sold 204,000 devices, with 31% to women and 31% to customers in rural areas.
Community-based solutions
By assembling smartphones in countries within Africa, import duties can be reduced - these often make up a large proportion of the device cost.
Our EADAK plant in Kenya is the country's first smartphone assembly plant. This is able to produce smartphones that are 30% cheaper than imported ones – also generating between 300 and 500 direct jobs, fostering local talent development and contributing to economic growth.
Digital gender gap
The digital gender gap continues to grow in many less-developed countries where there are 15% (265 million) fewer women than men using mobile internet. Social and cultural norms underpin barriers to gender equity in mobile internet use. Women feel barriers such as handset affordability, and literacy and digital skills more acutely than men.
Learn more about our initiatives to tackle the digital gender gap
Support where it's needed
Through our initiatives, we're actively working to support positive outcomes for women through education, skills and jobs, health and wellbeing, and safety and economic empowerment. By focusing on creating relevant services for women, we're taking significant steps in bringing more women online and bridging the digital gender gap.
Focusing on creating relevant services for women is a key part of our strategy to bring more women online.
Mum & Baby service
This service provides customers with free access to maternal, neonatal and child health information in our African operations. The service helps parents and caregivers to take positive actions to improve their children’s health.
Financial training for women with disabilities
In the The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Je Suis Cap (I am Capable) provided 950 women living with disabilities with free financial education training provided by M-Pesa and Visa. Each trainee received a starter kit to establish their own business as an M-Pesa agent.
Data democratisation in Africa
Smartphone ownership is lowest in emerging markets. Out of Vodacom’s 134 million customers, approximately 62% have access to a smartphone.
Creating opportunities
ConnectU, which is live in South Africa, DRC and Mozambique provides free access to basic internet and essential services and resources including education, health services, jobs boards and social networks to support those unable to afford data.
Tailored products
Just4U provides customers with personalised product recommendations. Through Just4U Towns (part of Just4U), we use census data to identify towns with low to middle-income populations, offering customised packages based on behaviours and preferences to help lower their costs.
Value for all
As of the end of March 2025, five of our eight European markets had an affordable tariff in place and available for our customers online.
Accessibility has been defined using UN and World Bank guidelines as follows:
- Price: not exceeding 2% of the income of the poorest 40% of the population
- Data allowance: minimum of 6GB
