We recognise that we have a responsibility to protect nature and biodiversity, and we aim to use the power of digital technologies to support this ambition across the globe.
The world is currently undergoing a dangerous decline in nature, with one million species at risk of extinction, affecting billions of people and economies globally. We all have a responsibility to address this crisis and to ensure that ecosystems across the globe are preserved. At Vodafone, we understand that our activities can impact nature, and we seek to protect nature and biodiversity through responsible management.
We also that believe that digital technology can play a decisive role in this space. It empowers us to take decisive actions to protect, manage, and restore nature. By leveraging cutting-edge tech solutions, we aim to demonstrate the potential of using digital technologies to address nature and biodiversity challenges.
Managing the impact of our business
As a global business operating across geographies, we recognise that Vodafone has impacts, risks and dependencies on nature and biodiversity. For example, we use water in our direct operations to manage our properties and our connectivity infrastructure, and in our value chain during the manufacturing of devices. We manage these impacts responsibly through internal policies and engagement with key suppliers.
We conducted an analysis of our operations and supply chain to understand where these key impacts, risks and dependencies lie in our value chain, and how they affect nature and biodiversity. We seek to use these findings to foster change within Vodafone and to protect nature and biodiversity through responsible management and digital technologies. We aim to further engage with strategic partners and suppliers to further integrate considerations of nature and biodiversity into our business practices.
IoT in the wild | How Vodafone is helping protect wildlife with connected technology
Leveraging the power of technology
We are taking action across our markets to apply digital technologies to tackle nature and biodiversity challenges. Through these technological applications, we aim to demonstrate the power that technology can have in addressing challenges such as resource management, interactions between humans and species and the protection of our ecosystems.
Artificial Intelligence is a field of computer science that focuses on the development of smart machines or technologies capable of performing tasks that normally require a human brain. When applied to nature and biodiversity challenges, AI can become a powerful tool.
Addressing the human-wildlife conflict with AI
Vodafone is the creator of mTwiga, a digital technology solution for preventing human-wildlife conflict. mTwiga uses cameras with advanced video analytics and AI-enabled software to recognise predator species (such as leopard, hyena and lion) within close proximity to human settlements. This technology is able to send real-time alerts to communities and rangers and is designed to operate off-grid.
An AI-based warning system to protect whales in South Africa
In South Africa, Vodacom has created an AI-based technology solution to use cameras and hydrophones to identify and alert mussel farmers to the presence of marine mammals including whales to prevent entanglement in mussel farming ropes.
Artificial Intelligence is a field of computer science that focuses on the development of smart machines or technologies capable of performing tasks that normally require a human brain. When applied to nature and biodiversity challenges, AI can become a powerful tool.
Million plus smart meters coming to Thames Water region in £50 million deal
In the UK, Thames Water adopted a new smart meter framework powered by Vodafone’s Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) network. The use of NB-IoT technology on this scale is an industry first for Thames Water’s smart metering programme, providing readily available internet connection, even in hard-to-reach places, and lower start-up costs. It will provide Thames Water and its customers with near real-time data delivering up to 24 reads a day. The technology will be key in helping to reduce people’s water use, with the real time data providing insight into use and even helping Thames Water to detect leaks at customers’ homes and in businesses.
Using IoT to prevent illegal logging in Romania
In Romania, the IoT team has created a system based on acoustic sensors deployed in forest areas. The sensors pick up forest sounds and the AI can identify the specific sound of logging and trigger the sending of real time alerts with geolocation to forest administrators and directly to rangers’ phones so they can intervene immediately.
Vodafone Business partners with Cairo University for IoT-powered Smart Farming solutions
In Egypt, Vodafone Business implemented a Smart Farming solutions using IoT to enhance water efficiency, increase soil productivity for improved crop yields in partnership with Cairo University.
Vodafone Germany uses digital twins to protect trees against extreme heat
In the city of Erlangen, Vodafone Germany has worked with the plant cultivation start-up Agvolution and the local Friedrich-Alexander University to develop sensors which can monitor soil humidity and temperature. The data from the sensors allows Agvolution to create ‘digital twins’ of the trees being monitored. The digital twins provide a virtual understanding of how the trees will react based on the moisture levels given by the sensors. From this, the city can determine the priority of care for trees and adjust watering levels accordingly.
One million phones for the planet
Creating partnerships
Our three-year partnership with WWF, which began in November 2022, aims to leverage technology to mitigate environmental impacts and promote more sustainable choices. Together, we are promoting a shift towards a more sustainable circular economy, and the importance of reusing, recycling, and reducing waste.
Each phone generates £1 towards WWF conservation projects worldwide, addressing the climate and nature crisis. Funds from this initiative help to find solutions to ensure future generations have a world with thriving habitats and wildlife.
Find out more about other partnerships across our markets
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